225 Magazine [May 2022]

MAY 2022 • FREE SOUL FOOD FEST 14 DRUNKEN FISH 51 SILLY RABBIT COMEDY 63 225BATONROUGE .COM

Olive or Twist’s Spring Affair cocktail

ROOFTOP BARS BREWERIES + DISTILLERIES NATURAL WINES + SO MUCH MORE!

Exploring Baton Rouge craft cocktails, beer and wine

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MENTION 225 & RECEIVE $225 OFF

Eat Leauxcal.

Drink Leauxcal.

B r u n c h . . .

Your flight is

boarding!

Saturday and S from 9 till 3unday

Mimosa Flights

ude With Gratit hanks, and T

S𝗁𝗁𝗁𝗁𝗁𝗁𝗁𝗁𝗁𝗁𝗁𝗁𝗁&

Mike

­

CONTENTS //

Features 19 Which new center is

addressing Louisiana’s mental health needs

22 How Southern University’s outgoing leader is reflecting on his tenure

24 Who is now leading the

A spread of Vietnamese and Japanese dishes at Drunken Fish

charge at Three Roll Estate

48 How the crowd expressed itself at a local fashion show And much more…

Departments 14 19 24 26 45 51 63 68

What’s Up Our City I am 225 Cover story Style Taste Culture Calendar

51

ON THE COVER

Drink up!

COLLIN RICHIE

OLIVE OR TWIST strikes again. Though we’ve featured the bar on 225’s covers before (most recently for last year’s Best of 225 issue, when it won the award for Best Craft Cocktail Menu), its Spring Affair cocktail was too stunning to NOT grace our cover this month. The gin-based drink is garnished with a dandelion—and don’t worry, it’s edible. Staff photographer Collin Richie captured all the fun drinks featured in our exploration of the local craft beverage industry. Turn to page 26 for a taste.

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[225] May 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

We know you’re ready to carry on and see the world. Fly BTR, and you’ll see it a lot sooner. It’s closer, more convenient, with easy parking and check-in.

Plus, nonstops and short hops to anywhere you want to go.

Tales of a cocktail A MAN—OR WOMAN—walks into a bar …

That sentence is the beginning of so many great stories, isn’t it? It’s also the spirit behind this month’s cover story.

If you’ve spent about three seconds watching a good bartender, you know the magic of the work they do. I love the sound of ice rattling around inside a cocktail shaker, and I am always fascinated to watch a bartender squint as they precisely measure each ingredient. At the best bars, crafting a cocktail feels akin to a science experiment.

It’s the same story when it comes to brewing craft beer, making wine or distilling spirits.

I think we’re pretty lucky to have a front-row seat to it all here in the Capital Region.

Our area is now home to 10 breweries and distilleries, and most of them offer tasting and tour experiences. And because the lines separating “restaurant” and “bar” are now more blurred than ever, deciding your drink order at dinner has become as much of a culinary adventure as the meal itself.

Starting on page 26, we’re dissecting some of these adventures. By the time you’re done reading, I think you’ll be pretty proud of the creativity unfolding every day at Baton Rouge bars and restaurants.

Issue 2022 Adend proof But ofDate: course,May the story doesn’t with #1 what you’re sip• Please respond e-mail or fax withthe yourbar—are approval oronly minor revisions. ping on.

The by cocktail—and the beginning.

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines.

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

My favorite moment of a night out is often when I find myself sitting alone—when a friend has gone up to order a drink or to use the restroom—and I can take a moment to people watch, to absorb the energy around me.

In one corner, there might be a group of friends laughing and telling jokes. In another, I might spy a couple speaking in hushed tones, divulging their deepest fears and dreams. And behind the counter, I’ll see a bartender shaking up the next drink, chatting away conspiratorially with a guest. Memories are unfolding all around me.

I think back to some of my own favorite bar memories, like the time my husband and I took my mother-in-law to Tin Roof Brewing Co. when she was visiting us, or sitting in Hayride Scandal for hours getting to know a new friend.

I think about the day I got to brew my own beer with LA Homebrew, and a wonderful cocktail-making class I took at Magpie Cafe. And it’s always amazing to tour a whole fascinating world of wine at the annual Fete Rouge event.

But, of course, my personal favorite bar memory will always be the night I met my husband at a dive bar in our hometown. I almost didn’t go out that night, but I’ll be forever grateful that I did.

What’s your favorite bar memory? I’d love to hear your stories, whether they happened near or far. Shoot me a note at jennifer@225batonrouge.com.

And most importantly—next time you go to a bar, make sure you have a plan to get home safely. You’ll want it to be a night to remember, but for all the right reasons.

Cheers,

Jennifer Tormo Alvarez 225 Editor

Diving in While this issue focuses on the art of craft beer, wine and cocktails (such as the Solera drink pictured above), there are so many more great places to get drinks in town that we didn’t have room to include. So, we’ve rounded up a few local dive bars and watering holes on our website. We also have stories on new outdoor dining (and imbibing) options, as well as a roundup of petfriendly patios. Head to 225batonrouge.com/fooddrink (or subscribe to our 225 Daily newsletter!) to read it all.

PA R T N E R E V E N T

Summer Restaurant Celebration “Eight great restaurants.

Eight great offers!”

That’s the official motto for 225’s Summer Restaurant Celebration event, and it is kicking off May 1.

Throughout the month, you can grab a 225 Best Eats voucher supporting local partner restaurants.

Participating restaurants include Burgersmith, City Slice Pizza & Pints, FinBomb Sushi Burritos & Poke Bowls, Cou-Yon’s BBQ, Dempsey’s, Light House Coffee, Pizza Byronz and Frank’s Restaurant.

You can buy one—or buy them all—at 225besteats.com.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

LET’S

TACO - BOUT REAL ESTATE

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[225] May 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

CALL FOR ALL OF YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS. BUYING • SELLING • PROFESSIONAL ADVICE 225.218.0888 • DELRIOREALESTATEBR.COM

COLLIN RICHIE

EDITOR'S NOTE //

WE CAN CARE FOR YOU. BUT ONLY YOU CAN TELL US WHO YOU CARE FOR.

Half of your healthcare is in the stories you share with us. Because before you’re a patient, you’re a person – and what you’re thinking, feeling, and hoping for can help us to personalize your recovery and improve your outcome. ololrmc.com/WeListenWeHeal

UPCOMING SHOWS GEORGIA ON MY MIND

MAY 13 • 7:30 PM This show celebrates the music of Ray Charles with an all-star cast of Emmy, Grammy, and NAACP Image award winning performers.

Publisher: Julio Melara

EDITORIAL

Editorial Director: Penny Font Editor: Jennifer Tormo Alvarez Managing Editor: Laura Furr Mericas Features Writer: Maggie Heyn Richardson Digital Content Editor: Dillon Lowe Staff Photographer: Collin Richie Contributing Writers: Cynthea Corfah, Olivia Deffes, Tracey Koch, Domenic Purdy, Zane Piontek, Meg Ryan, Poet Wolfe Contributing Photographers: Ariana Allison, Amy Shutt

ADVERTISING

Sales Director: Erin Pou Account Executives: Manny Fajardo, André Hellickson Savoie, Jamie Hernandez, Kaitlyn Maranto, Audrey Taunton Advertising Coordinators: Devyn MacDonald, Brittany Nieto

ACE FREHLEY

STUDIO E

MAY 20 • 7:30 PM

Director: Taylor Gast Editor: Lisa Tramontana Content Strategist: Allyson Guay Multimedia Strategy Manager: Tim Coles Account Executive: Judith LaDousa

Ace Frehley is the original lead guitarist and co-founding member of the rock band KISS.

MARKETING

Marketing & Events Assistant: Taylor Falgout Events: Abby Hamilton

ADMINISTR ATION

LONG SUMMER NIGHTS AT MANSHIP THEATRE

Business Manager: Tiffany Durocher Business Associate: Kirsten Milano Office Coordinator: Sara Hodge Receptionist: Cathy Varnado Brown

PRODUCTION/DESIGN

Production Manager: Jo Glenny Art Director: Hoa Vu Senior Graphic Designer: Melinda Gonzalez Graphic Designers: Emily Witt, Ashlee Digel

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Audience Development Director and Digital Manager: James Hume Audience Development Coordinator: Ivana Oubre

BLACK JOE LEWIS MAY 6 • 7:30 PM

TOMMY PRINE MAY 14 • 7:30 PM

Black Joe Lewis is an American blues, funk and soul artist from Austin, TX influenced by Howlin' Wolf and James Brown.

Tommy Prine is known for his unique finger-picking style and is the son of the late legendary multi Grammy award-winning artist, John Prine.

M A N S H I P T H E AT R E . O R G • 2 2 5 - 3 4 4 - 0 3 3 4 Supported in part by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency. This program is made possible in part by a grant from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge, funded by the East Baton Rouge

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[225] May 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

A publication of Melara Enterprises, LLC Chairman: Julio Melara Executive Assistant: Brooke Motto Vice President: Penny Font Chief Operating Officer: Guy Barone Chairman Emeritus: Rolfe H. McCollister Jr. Circulation/Reprints 225.928.1700 email: circulation@225batonrouge.com 9029 Jefferson Highway, Suite 300, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-214-5225 • FAX 225-926-1329 225batonrouge.com ©Copyright 2022 by Melara Enterprises, LLC. All rights reserved by LBI. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Business address: 9029 Jefferson Highway, Ste. 300, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Telephone (225) 214-5225. 225 Magazine cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material—manuscripts or photographs—with or without the inclusion of a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed.

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines.

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

EXPERIENCE I N N O VA T I O N EXPERIENCE QUALITY PAT I E N T C A R E EXPERIENCE CYPRESS

Cypress Pointe Surgical Hospital is recognized nationally for delivering an outstanding patient experience, high quality clinical care, and successful surgical outcomes. With our low nurse-to-patient ratio, a dedicated Team of RN’s, Clinical staff and a medical staff that includes board certified and fellowship trained physicians along with all our Team Members is why CPSH is the choice for hospital care in South Louisiana.

42570 S AIRPORT RD • HAMMOND, LA 985-510-6200 CYPRESSPOINTESURGICAL.COM

225batonrouge.com | [225] May 2022

11

F E E D B AC K / / W H AT ’ S O N L I N E / /

TOP STORIES

Hot takes

1. First Look: Mid City’s new arcade bar, BR.cade, opens March 5

71

COLLIN RICHIE

Mid City Gras

comments on Facebook

3. First Look: Lotus Lounge brings tropical flair and intimate vibe to Government Street

Why doesn’t Baton Rouge have a Fat Tuesday parade?

“Over the past 15 years, multiple groups and individuals have attempted to create new krewes and parades for Sunday after Spanish Town. Most of them couldn’t garner enough potential members to make it happen. There should definitely be a Sunday parade and ball. Monday and Tuesday would NEVER happen because the negative impact to the local economy from shutting down would be too heavy.”

—Ned Fasullo, via Facebook

“I think the fact that Mardi Gras ends in Baton Rouge after Spanish Town is outdated. Plenty of people would enjoy the festivities if they carried on here through Tuesday. Baton Rouge parades have gotten so much better.”

—Kristina Michelle Bush, via Facebook “Being that BR is the capital, I expect more. That’s like saying it’s pointless for Metairie to participate on Mardi Gras Day because New Orleans has the best show in town. People still attend.

Baton Rouge needs to get on board.”

—Angela Pichon, via Facebook

Local cycling groups are expanding across town and promoting a bikeable Baton Rouge: “It is of concern to me that many of the riders photographed were not wearing helmets. These are adult role models. Even one minor spill has the potential for causing an irreversible brain injury. There are so many people texting and not paying attention while driving in general, lack of wide bike lanes, etc.”

—Debbie Kranske, via email

Analytics and comments are from March 1-31, 2022. Comments have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

CONNECT WITH US facebook.com/225magazine

COLLIN RICHIE

likes on Instagram

2. A side of vitamin D, please: New restaurants in Baton Rouge with great outdoor patios and seating areas

Rock Paper Taco’s patio

The Zulu parade in New Orleans in 2020

STOCK PHOTO

ARIANA ALLISON

741

What readers had to say about some of the stories we published in March:

COLLIN RICHIE

ARIANA ALLISON

The articles 225 readers clicked the most in March:

A Capital Heights Social Ride biker’s helmet

twitter.com/225batonrouge

instagram.com/225batonrouge

pinterest.com/225batonrouge

Dream without boundaries

youtube.com/225magazine

Knowing you’ve got the strength of the cross, the protection of the shield and thousands of top doctors to lift you when you need it.

The Right Card. The Right Care.

01MK7615 09/21

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[225] May 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines.

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

Diagnose, Assess & Conquer your One of the most common symptoms I hear in clinic is regarding dry eyes.

And when I tell my patients “Your eyes are watering because you have dry eyes”, I get the ‘deer caught in headlights’ look! Unfortunately, this is only one of many symptoms of dry eye disease. My approach to the treatment of dry eye is simple and effective but it all starts from exploring different methods of healing this disease from the inside out while following a specific treatment plan. After all, your eyes are a part of your body. Scan here to learn how it all starts with YOU!

7673 Perkins Rd #B-3 Baton Rouge, LA 70810 225-757-0505 • trioeyecare.com

Dr. Reshma Amin

225batonrouge.com | [225] May 2022

13

May

Soul’d!

Baton Rouge Soul Food Fest returns with two days of live music and food

FILE PHOTO

Musician Henry Turner Jr. is the founder of the Baton Rouge Soul Food Fest.

Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival

COLLIN RICHIE

Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Free; Riverfront Plaza Pre-party: Thursday, May 12 $25; Henry Turner Jr. Listening Room

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[225] May 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

“I BELIEVE THIS will be a banner year,” says musician and recording artist Henry Turner Jr., founder of the Baton Rouge Soul Food Fest. It holds its fifth annual celebration this month downtown on River Road. “We’re gonna fire with both barrels.”

Held May 14–15 along the Riverfront Plaza, the event features a weekend of live soul, blues, gospel, R&B and spoken-word performances from the likes of Lisa Harris (performing a Tina Turner tribute), blues and rock performer Owen Scott, soul musician Kasey Ball, Henry Turner Jr. & Flavor and others. Popular bluesman and Grammy nominee Kenny Neal is Sunday’s headliner.

A variety of authentic soul food dishes— chitterlings, stewed and braised meats, greens, yams and fruit cobblers prepared by local restaurants, home cooks and caterers—will be available for sampling.

A ticketed pre-party takes place on Thursday, May 12, at the Henry Turner Jr. Listening Room on North Street with a menu that features wings and greens.

Turner founded the festival to bring awareness to the cultural importance of soul food and its continued presence in America’s culinary tableau.

“Soul food and the culture around it have spread,” he says. “You can’t go to a gas station without seeing soul food on the menu, and even in high-end restaurants, there are usually dishes that have their roots in soul food. We think it’s important to educate the community about that.”

Unlike festivals that broker with well-known restaurants and event caterers, the Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival holds a five-category cooking contest to ferret out grassroots soul food practitioners.

Cooks compete for top honors in meats, vegetables and sides, bread and desserts, appetizers and soups, beverages and ices. They’re judged not just on taste and presentation, but also on the history or story behind each entry.

The festival also honors an annual Soul Food Pioneer. This year’s recipient is Deborah Dickerson, owner of D’s Southern Soul Café in Plaquemine, a popular spot known for chitterlings, smothered liver and peppergrass, a wild edible green. Last year, Dickerson brought 150 pounds of chitterlings to the festival, Turner says.

“She overwhelmed us with her abilities,” he says. “Her food is off the chain.”

The festival is free and family friendly. To purchase tickets to the pre-party and for more info, visit brsoulfoodfest.com.

—MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

W H AT ’ S U P / /

How to make a mint julep THE KENTUCKY DERBY’S essential accompaniment is, of course, the mint julep. Churchill Downs reports serving about 120,000 mint juleps over the two-day derby weekend, which officially includes the Kentucky Oaks horse race on Friday and the celebrated Kentucky Derby itself on Saturday.

Traditionally served in sterling silver juleps, the drink is a refreshing, easy-to-prepare amalgam of bourbon, simple syrup, mint and crushed ice. Think of it as a den-of-vice snowball. Around town you can find many renditions at local bars and restaurants, like classic cocktailery Hayride Scandal; Houmas House & Gardens, which makes a rum version; and the Lost Cove, known for its deep bench of brown liquors.

If you’re planning to host a Derby Day party, here’s the official Churchill Downs recipe. Note the instructions to “slap” mint, a common practice among bartenders to gently press herb leaves before garnishing a glass in order to release their aromatics.

MAY 7 Date of this year’s Kentucky Derby

The Old Forester Mint Julep Recipe 3 ounces Old Forester Mint Julep ¾ ounce simple syrup 8-10 mint leaves 3 mint sprigs for garnish

ISTOCK

DIGITS

6.5 billion The number of greeting cards Americans purchase annually, according to the Greeting Card Association, the industry’s trade association. Cards cost anywhere from 50 cents to $10 each, and Mother’s Day is one of the biggest occasions to pick one up.

It’s estimated 72% of Mother’s Day gift givers buy a greeting card for mom, according to the National Retail Federation.

Hayride Scandal’s mint julep

Pack mint julep cup with crushed ice. In a mixing glass, combine bourbon, syrup and mint leaves.

Lightly bruise mint leaves with a muddler. Strain contents into julep cup. Garnish with three generous sprigs of mint. Make sure to slap mint, and insert straw into ice near mint.

RECIPE SOURCE: KENTUCKYDERBY.COM FILE PHOTO BY ARIANA ALLISON

Try a Cubano 5 places to order a Cuban sandwich in Baton Rouge Caribbean Joe’s

Inga’s Subs and Salads

Shaking things up with the addition of capicola for ham (gasp!), Inga’s Cuban includes pulled pork, provolone, ballpark mustard and pickles. It’s pressed between white or wheat French bread and served with a bag of Zapp’s.

Find it on Facebook

K Street Grill

The Perkins Road underpass restaurant gets fancy with a fullflavored lunchtime Cubano made with chipotle braised pork, smoked ham, Dijon mustard and pickles on a Cuban roll. It’s joined by fresh cut fries. kalurahstreetgrill.com

ES

TE IA OC

—Rep. Alan Seabaugh, R-Shreveport, said in late March after both chambers of the Louisiana Legislature soundly invalidated Gov. John Bel Edwards’ veto of the state’s new congressional map. The legislature approved the map in a special session in February, which Edwards vetoed in early March. The map maintains just C RI one majority Black N LLI CO congressional district, while Louisiana’s population is about onethird Black. “We tried last year and failed,” Seabaugh continued. “This time we broke down the door. He better be careful.”

IE

Chef Russell Davis’ po-boy rendition of a Cuban includes slow-roasted pork, sliced ham, pickles, Creole mustard spread and Swiss cheese on Leidenheimer bread. Order with fries seasoned with Davis’ signature Cajun dusting. jedslocal.com

S AS

H

JED’s Local

PR

No surprise, porcine hub City Pork features a Cubano at both its Jefferson Highway and Highland and Perkins locations. Pulled pork, City Pork cured ham, house pickles and spicy citrusy mojo sauce meet between pressed Cuban bread. It’s served with house-made chips. citypork.com

S

City Pork

D

PHOTOS COURTESY THE RESTAURANTS

This Sherwood Forest area sandwich shop’s pressed Cubano includes marinated, slow-roasted pork with Caribbean flavors, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. It’s served with smashed fried plantains. Owner Jake Boriel says it’s the restaurant’s top seller and has been on the menu since it opened in 2016. Find it on Facebook

“It’s probably just the first veto override.”

225batonrouge.com | [225] May 2022

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Issue Date: May 2022 Ad proof #2 • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions.

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines.

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

W H AT ’ S U P / /

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

W H AT ’ S N E W

ONE FOR ME Buzz feed

By Poet Wolfe

! m o M

COURTESY RED STICK SOCIAL

& one for

Ever-expanding Red Stick Social is renovating its interior and outdoor space, slated to be completed by the summer. Here’s what’s on the list of new features. redsticksocial.com • Permanent outdoor stage and artificial grass space • Beer garden • Container bar with VIP rooftop deck • New indoor stage and a speakeasy-style bar replacing the fifth-floor bowling alley • Green room, bridal suite and bar on the fourth floor • Additional bar alongside the third-floor bowling alleys • Coffee shop serving City Roots drinks and a breakfast menu on the first floor

SCREEN TIME

AT O N

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GA LLE RY

Where to catch an outdoor flick:

U CO

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Baton Rouge Gallery hosts Movies & Music on the Lawn at BREC’s City Park. Enjoy free, bottomless popcorn while watching iconic silent films projected on an inflatable outdoor screen while local bands perform live, new scores during the movie. Dates had not been announced at press time, but the lineup is slated to include Sherlock Jr., La Boheme, Sidewalk Stories, Shaun the Sheep and Nosferatu. batonrougegallery.org

Corporate Blvd at Jefferson • 225.925.2344 townecenteratcedarlodge.com • 16

[225] May 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

BR PL

East Baton Rouge Parish Library hosts Friday Night Movies on the Plaza every Friday in June at 7 p.m. The event will take place on the plaza of the Main Library at Goodwood. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and relax while watching free familyfriendly films. ebrpl.com

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Issue Date: October 2021 Ad proof #1 W H AT ’ S U P / /

• Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions.

• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines.

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

Space safety

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LSU medical physics graduate student Megan Chesal and LSU SpaRTAN lab student Nousha Afshari are collaborating on research that will help predict medical outcomes without experimenting on living beings. They’ll make custom-tailored “phantoms” or “avatars” for any person with the aim to help fight cancer and protect astronauts and their equipment from space radiation. lsu.edu

PHO TO

TAKE A ’CUE The famous Shed BBQ & Blues Joint, which has been featured everywhere from Thrillist and Southern Living to the Food Network, will be opening in the former home of The Oasis on Burbank Drive. Oasis owner Luke Forstmann and Brad Orrison (who owns the original Shed location in Ocean Springs, Mississippi) are partnering to bring the popular family-friendly beach joint to the Capital City. theshedbbq.com

LMP 5430

COURTESY THE SHED

225-925-8710

|

WWW.ROTOBR.COM

Summer is for snoballs Cool down with one of the Capital Region’s many snoball stands. Have you tried these three?

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Est. 2020

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SNOJUICE

Snojuice uses organic ingredients to create a healthy alternative to the traditional snoball. The menu offers herbal and fruit snoballs, with certain flavors including antioxidants that have been shown to fight cancer. The snoball stand sets up shop around the city. snojuice.com

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THE SNO HOUSE

If you’re driving through Jones Creek Road, you can’t miss the fun, colorful exterior of The Sno House. The stand uses organic cane sugar to sweeten its fruitflavored snoballs and monk fruit for its sugarfree alternatives. The Sno House also uses products from other local businesses, such as Gambino’s Bakery and the New Orleans Ice Cream Company, for its signature flavors and stuffed snoballs. thesnohouse.com

FILE

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SNOMAN SNOBALLS

SnoMan Snoballs offers fruit-flavored classics like nectar, tutti frutti and cherry flavors—as well as cream flavors and sugar-free alternatives.

Condensed and evaporated milk, sour spray and fruit are just a few of the toppings the stand serves up, too. SnoMan Snoballs can be found at two locations, on Burbank Drive and Tiger Bend Road.

Find it on Facebook

Choose from 150+ restaurants, 45 miles of trails and an array of shopping in this vibrant small town with big city vibes.

225batonrouge.com | [225] May 2022

17

Open Road Mode Lock doors. Adjust lights. Arm home security.

Get outdoors.

Protect. Monitor. Control.

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MAG107433–0118

I N S I D E : Southern president Ray L. Belton reflects on his tenure

A glimmer of

hope

Louisiana’s only mental health receiving center marks first anniversary

IT’S BEEN A little over a year since the opening of Baton Rouge’s pioneering Bridge Center for Hope, intended as a temporary safe haven for those suffering from a mental health crisis.

Located across from the Baton Rouge General’s Mid City campus, the center is currently the only adult crisis receiving facility in Louisiana.

The project was a long time coming, says executive director Charlotte Claiborne. In 2013 and 2014, five people suffering from

mental illness died in East Baton Rouge Parish prison, demonstrating an urgent need to find an alternative method of supporting those experiencing mental health crises. Already crowded parish prisons were clearly not the place, nor were congested emergency rooms.

One of the men who died in parish prison was a 39-year-old artist with schizophrenia named David O’Quin. After his death in 2013, his father, Bill O’Quin, began advocating for reforming how law enforcement handles such incidents.

COURTESY BRIDGE CENTER FOR HOPE

B Y MAG G IE H E YN R ICH A R DSO N

OUR CITY //

5,000

COURTESY BRIDGE CENTER FOR HOPE

Estimated number of patients the Bridge Center for Hope expects to admit per year.

For the next several years, O’Quin and other advocates, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and City-Parish and local law enforcement officials worked on the project that would become the Bridge Center for Hope.

Law enforcement saw the facility as a better way to handle a complex, high-risk population, and as a way to reduce the number of people in parish prison. Advocates of mental health saw it as a key stop gap in stabilizing those in crisis, buying time to get them the services they need.

In 2018, voters overwhelmingly approved a 10-year mental health property tax, which funded the center’s creation. This came just two years after the same tax was defeated at the polls.

The change in public sentiment mirrored a national shift, with Americans increasingly “becoming more open about mental health,” according to a 2018 Harris Poll on behalf of the American Psychological Association.

The Bridge Center finally opened in February 2021. It arrives at a time when it’s perhaps more needed than ever, as a 2020 Gallup poll reported Americans’ assessment of their own mental health sinking to the lowest levels seen over the last two decades.

The multi-faceted facility is organized to help two distinct, but sometimes overlapping, populations: those suffering from mental health disorders and those with substanceuse issues. The center is run by the global mental health provider RI International.

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From February to December 2021, the Bridge Center admitted 2,286 individuals, a number that’s probably far lower than what the center will see over the same period this year, Claiborne says.

“The 2021 numbers are not indicative of what the community actually needs,” Claiborne says. “We opened in the middle of the pandemic, so we knew that a lot of people were not going to come out. We didn’t have a COVID unit. This year, we’ll have something to compare it to.”

Claiborne estimates closer to 5,000 patients will be admitted annually.

The mental health impact of the pandemic is still being felt, Claiborne says. Tracking the number of mental health cases at local hospitals, she found that number increased from 9,000 in 2019 to 12,000 in 2021.

“I think a lot of people who would never have exhibited any type of mental health issue before the pandemic are now having their first episodes,” Claiborne says. “They’re having depression or having grief because it affected so many people in so many different ways.”

Currently, about 40% of those who arrive at the Bridge Center are brought by law enforcement, and 60% come on their own or with help from friends or family members, Claiborne says.

When they arrive, patients are immediately checked into the Crisis Observation Unit, which has 16 recliners set up for stabilizing, assessing and observing individuals to determine what they need next.

They remain in this part of the Bridge Center for 23 hours or less, says Claiborne, after which they’ll go to the

DIGIT

40

Percent of those who arrive at the Bridge Center brought by law enforcement. (The other 60% come on their own or with help from friends or family members.) Law enforcement officials, who helped launch the facility, saw it as a better way to handle a high-risk population while also reducing the number of people in parish prison.

COURTESY BRIDGE CENTER FOR HOPE

DIGIT

Bridge Center’s short-term psychiatric unit for three to five days, or the medical detox unit for three to seven days.

A care management team starts working on each client’s discharge plan as soon as they walk into the facility to ensure they have the right resources in place when they leave, Claiborne says. The team books the patient for both physical health and behavioral health appointments following their discharge, and they help find additional community resources.

There’s no limit to the number of times a person can use the Bridge Center, Claiborne says.

While the Bridge Center is answering a vital need in Baton Rouge, there’s still a lot of work to be done to expand the Capital Region’s mental health services, Claiborne adds.

For example, those who need a longer term mental health facility find only state-run options with waiting lists or very few private facilities, she says.

Moreover, there are no equivalent resources like the Bridge Center for young people.

“If you’re under 18 years of age and you’re in a crisis situation, there is nowhere for you to go other than the hospital,” Claiborne says. “Our Lady of the Lake has a ward that will take adolescents, but that’s pretty much it.

The next largest one is in Shreveport.

I’m hoping we can get to a point where we could duplicate something for that population. But it’s going to take some time.”

For more information about the Bridge Center for Hope, visit brbridge. org.

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OUR CITY //

Exit interview

By Maggie Heyn Richardson

Retiring this fall, Southern University president-chancellor Ray Belton talks the school’s past, present and future WHEN HE THINKS about what Southern University has meant to him personally, retiring president-chancellor Ray Belton responds with quiet candor.

“Southern,” he says, pausing, and taking in a breath. “Southern has meant everything to me.”

Belton’s palpable affinity for the institution goes back a long way. While a strong student in high school, the Shreveport native didn’t consider going to college, choosing instead to enlist in the United States Army like his father.

In his late 20s, after completing his military commitment and working full time for local industry, Belton figured he’d use GI Bill benefits to take a few classes at Southern University Shreveport, then a two-year institution.

Right away, his professors saw potential, and made a point of encouraging him.

“The faculty really reached out to me,” Belton says. “They saw something in me.”

Belton transferred to Southern’s flagship campus in Baton Rouge

to complete a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and began a career as a licensed mental health counselor, working in Louisiana and in Boston. He later earned a master’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

While working in Nebraska, Belton’s father died, leading him to return to Shreveport to take care of his mother.

There, he was asked to teach classes in psychology at Southern’s Shreveport campus.

Belton showed natural skills as a teacher and campus leader, and faculty mentors encouraged him to shift his focus to higher education administration. They suggested he apply to the University of Texas at Austin’s competitive doctoral program in educational administration. He was accepted, and after completing his PhD, Belton returned to Southern University Shreveport. There, he served in several administrative roles before becoming chancellor in 2003. Over the course of Belton’s 12-year tenure, the campus saw $34 million in capital improvements

and a 156% increase in enrollment.

In 2015, Southern University named Belton chancellor of its Baton Rouge campus and president of the Southern University System. Belton became the first person to serve in this dual role.

The Southern University System is the only HBCU system in the U.S. and includes the Baton Rouge, Shreveport and New Orleans campuses, the Southern University Law Center and the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center.

Calm, thoughtful and driven to see students flourish, Belton has been a steady hand at Southern, guiding the university out of unprecedented challenges, including dips in enrollment, budget shortfalls and probation for 12 of its athletics programs, and onto solid, exciting ground. He’ll be succeeded by incoming president-chancellor Dennis Shields this fall.

We checked in with Belton about some of his best memories as leader of the Jaguar Nation, and what he sees for the system’s future. subr.edu

“Southern has meant everything to me.”

—Southern University president-chancellor Ray Belton

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As you look back on your tenure as presidentchancellor of Southern, what are you proudest of?

A number of things. When I first arrived (in 2015), it was on the heels of a period of significant disinvestment in higher education, and Southern University Baton Rouge was tremendously challenged from a fiscal standpoint. I’m really pleased we were able to bring fiscal stability to the campus. Also, the university had never had a strategic plan, and we did that. It’s provided us guidance and direction, and brought every department together toward a common goal. Also, this year, we are enjoying the largest enrollment at Southern University Baton Rouge we’ve seen since 2010 (7,404 students). And our enrollment projections for next year are 30% higher than this year.

COLLIN RICHIE

Your undergraduate major was in psychology, and you worked for many years as a mental health counselor before becoming a tenured psychology professor. Why did you gravitate toward this field?

I’ve always been inquisitive about people, and the importance of understanding others and understanding yourself. My professors really imposed upon me to think about my worldview. For most of my life, I’ve had a yearning to understand human behavior, which is why I became a counselor and worked in clinical settings. Once I got into the classroom and into administration, it was clear there were a lot of similarities. It’s so rewarding to see students come in at one level and leave at another. I really enjoy watching them progress in their development. I think that’s something Southern does very well, caring about each student’s growth.

Under your leadership, the university has experienced many infrastructure improvements and created a master plan for the future. Tell us about this.

This year, we’re celebrating our 142nd anniversary, which is great, but it also means we have some aging

facilities. It was important to us to identify our needs, and ensure we’re able to welcome new generations of students in the future. We asked ourselves: ‘What kind of infrastructure do we need to ensure that, going forward, we can attract 20,000 students?’ We’ve worked with the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and the Center for Planning Excellence to create a plan for the future that will position us to be able to do this.

It allows us to grow our signature programs, like our College of Nursing, build a new student union and honors dorms. We’re well on our way to constructing a new STEM facility, a new College of Business and other amenities that will create a great student experience.

It sounds like the plan has energized alumni already. Isn’t fundraising at an all-time high?

Yes. We’re launching a capital campaign next year for the first time in the history of the university, and already we’ve been able to attract donations in the millions. Alums are really responding.

Under your leadership, Southern became one of just two institutions in Louisiana to be awarded a license to grow medical marijuana. What has that meant for the university?

It has really taken off. We have about 16 to18 different products now, and demand for these products is higher than ever. We’re engaging in research and trying to learn as much as we can about their therapeutic value. It’s been both a revenue generator for the university, and a way to ensure affordable products get into the hands of people who need them.

What are you most looking forward to in retirement?

I’m really excited about being able to spend more time with my wife, Norma, and our children and grandchildren. And I’m also excited about having time to pursue some other opportunities, like consulting.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

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I AM 225 //

Olivia Stewart FOR OLIVIA STEWART, all things sugar and sweet have a family tie. Two centuries after the birth of her ancestors’ Capital Region sugarcane farm and mill, her family caught on to the craft spirits craze, launching Louisiana’s first single estate distillery, sourced from the farm’s crops.

But it wasn’t until 2020, when what was supposed to be a two-week visit turned into a two-year-plus stay, that the passion became personal.

After studying art history at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in London, Stewart had been living in New York and working in art galleries. But when the COVID-19 pandemic began, Stewart and her fiancé​​decided to escape the city’s wintry spring, lonely isolation and a job furlough. They embarked on a road trip down to her hometown in Louisiana.

At the time, Stewart’s family was running local distillery Three Roll Estate. The brand was struggling, as tastings and field sales significantly declined during the pandemic.

Stewart decided to lend a helping hand, assisting by making hand sanitizer for the business. From there, she took on the role of tasting room manager and running Three Roll’s social media.

Eventually, out of “a sense of familial duty,” she took on the role of chief operating officer.

Three Roll opened as Cane Land, a distillery and tasting room on St. Phillip Street on the edge of downtown, in 2017 and later rebranded as Three Roll.

Stewart learned much about the industry from watching her father run the family business, and she decided to further her education by taking classes on the sugar industry and researching ways to continue rebranding and evolving.

She put to use her experience in the art world to transform the Three Roll Estate building downtown. Redecorating the tasting room, upgrading the infrastructure of the building, enhancing the quality of the distillery’s tour experience and launching new regular events were all part of Stewart’s reimagination.

“My sense of space and design were definitely informed by my art career,” Stewart says. “And thinking about the customer experience from a visual perspective definitely informed my decisions as we were making these changes.”

With a fresh rebrand—and a community that was reinvigorated by the vaccine release—there was an increase in the company’s visitors and sales. It began to leave behind the hardships of COVID-19.

Today, Stewart ensures each part of the distillery, from the bar to the tasting room, runs smoothly. Her job involves producing creative ideas for the company’s future, to compete with bigger distilleries—and keep the family legacy alive. threeroll.com

—POET WOLFE

COLLIN RICHIE

“I’ve really appreciated the larger impact I feel like I can make in a smaller city like Baton Rouge, versus in New York, where you have activists (and creators) from floor to ceiling and every which direction.”

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[225] May 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

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PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE • Sidebars by Zane Piontek

B Y C Y N T H E A C O R FA H A N D M AG G I E H E Y N R I C H A R D S O N

C OV E R S T ORY

[225] May 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

Exploring Baton Rouge’s ction growing colle ries of bars, brewe s and distillerie

C OV E R S T ORY

Yes, that is the State Capitol in the background!

The latest addition to Baton Rouge’s rooftop bar scene includes The Main Lobby, where you can see above the trees and downtown buildings while sipping on drinks like the refreshing Blue Elevator.

BREAKOUT Point with arrow at the capitol: Yes, that is the State Capitol in the background!

The latest addition to Baton Rouge’s rooftop bar scene includes The Main Lobby, where you can see above the trees and downtown buildings.

DIGIT

CULINARILY SPEAKING, THE last several years 900 have been exciting ones for Baton Rouge. And like our expanding dining options, our Approximate adult beverage number of members in The landscape has become deliciously wide and varied.

Bourbon Society of Baton Rouge, which After being pummeled during the COVID-19 was founded in 2015 to cultivate a commushutdown, bars are back in a big way in the Capital nity offor bourbon aficionados and fans.

Region, satisfying our unquenchable thirst the many ways to enjoy a good restorative.

And it’s not just bars. If you like a nice cocktail, a glass of interesting wine or a local craft beer, restaurants across town are increasingly focusing on their beverage programs, with several launching independent bar concepts this year. Sneak off to the Brakes Bar—the posh Mid City speakeasy behind newly opened Spoke & Hub—for a quirky craft cocktail prepared with offbeat ingredients. Stroll a few doors down for classic and reinvented tiki cocktails at the Lotus Lounge, the bar within Soji Modern Asian. Slip behind a sliding wall to sip your highball in Juban’s new, sultry Tigre Room.

Try a growing number of high-end tequila and mezcal flights at spots like Blue Corn, Modesto and Rock Paper Taco. Steel your liquid courage to try the bartenders’ latest creations at craft cocktail destinations like Hayride Scandal, The Lost Cove, Olive or Twist or The Radio Bar. Hobnob with a sommelier to find the perfect wine and cheese pairing.

Explore wine lists in chef-driven restaurants devoted to small, Old World producers. Hire a mobile cocktail cart for your next party. Slurp a craft beer on a rooftop bar. Visit a rum distillery with selections made from sugar cane harvested less than an hour away. Head for classic, cozy dive bars with loads of personality.

The experiences are many—more than we’d ever have room for in these pages—so get out and explore.

Cheers, Baton Rouge.

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C OV E R S T ORY

WHAT A VIEW

Eight scenic rooftop and patio bars to soak up the sun and surroundings in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE IS on the up and up (literally). Slowly but surely, the city is gaining more lavish rooftop and patio bars. When you live in a sunny state like Louisiana, why drink in an enclosed space indoors when you can imbibe outdoors surrounded by greenery, fresh air and views of the city? Local open-air bars feature thriving plants, wall art, outdoor games, elegant seating and sights you can only see in the Capital City.

KEY TERMS

Learn the

LINGO

—CYNTHEA CORFAH

BACK

The Chimes on Highland The Chimes rooftop bar is a spacious getaway where you can watch games on the big screens, drink your favorite beer on tap, eat American and Cajun dishes and look over Highland Road with LSU’s campus right next door.

The rooftop has comfy booth seating, a full-service bar and games like Jenga Giant. thechimes.com

The Main Lobby Say hello to the newest rooftop bar in the city.

Open since February, this decorative downtown two-story spot pulled out all of the stops. The rustic-chic outdoor bar on the second floor has stylish rattan chairs, rows of snake plants, a floral mural, flamingo decor and patio heaters for chilly days. themainlobbybr.com

Tsunami Sushi This sushi spot has been the downtown rooftop staple since 2005, and for good reason. Admire the Mississippi River from the elegant space enjoying sushi and sake. At night, the city lights brighten the sky, creating a romantic setting. batonrouge. servingsushi.com

Drinks on the patio BLDG 5 It doesn’t get much better than handcrafted cocktails on a patio bursting with vibrant greenery. This one-of-a-kind restaurant and bar under the Perkins

28

Road overpass has homey backyard vibes with a sophisticated twist (and retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors). Enjoy a charcuterie board with a refreshing drink under string lights. bldg5.com

Mid City Beer Garden This Government Street favorite is the embodiment of the term “open-air.”

Inside, locals can breathe easily surrounded by tropical plants and fresh air flowing from the ceilingless building. Pair local beers on tap with the restaurant’s tasty bar bites like grilled cheese and cheese fries. midcitybeergarden.com

SHAKEN OR STIRRED?

The classic 007 query refers to drinkers’ preferences for how their martinis are mixed: shaken in a cocktail shaker or stirred in the glass with a bar spoon.

And, though the cannon preference of fictional icon James Bond is to take his martinis “shaken, not stirred,” liquor aficionados will tell you gin should never be shaken, as the delicate spirit will become “bruised.”

SoLou This stylish south Louisianainspired restaurant and bar is just as tasty as it is photogenic. The Perkins Road spot has a plant wall, neon signage, string lights, twinkle globes dangling overhead and cozy blue couches to relax with a craft cocktail. eatsolou.com

Talluah Crafted Food and Wine Bar Looking for an upscale outdoor experience? Stop by this restaurant and wine bar in the Renaissance Baton Rouge Hotel.

The moody patio has blue lighting and fire displays during the evening. tallulahrestaurant. com

RINSE

Coating a cocktail glass with the subtle flavors of liqueurs or bitters.

A Sazerac is often served in an absinthe-rinsed glass.

Thai Kitchen Thai food and booze?

Yes, please. This restaurant and bar’s large patio boasts cabana seating, a grand waterfall, string lights, umbrellas and a stage for live music. thaikitchenla.com

[225] May 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

NEAT

This one’s simple: no ice.

ARIANA ALLISON

Raise the roof(top)

A shot of nonalcoholic drink taken as a chaser following a shot of straight liquor or a stiff cocktail.

A “pickle back”—a shot of pickle juice—is one of the most common and effective: the sharp, briney flavor does wonders to neutralize the burn of liquor.

The Main Lobby opened downtown in February.

ON THE ROCKS

This one’s also easy: with ice.

225batonrouge.com | [225] May 2022

29

C OV E R S T ORY

It’s NATURAL

90

Percent of Rocco's bottle list that consists of natural wines.

Explore the world of natural wines at Rocca Pizzeria

ORDER A GLASS of wine at Rocca Pizzeria in Mid City, and there’s a 90% chance that it’s considered “natural.”

Thanks to wine manager Sean Courtney, the popular Mid City restaurant’s wine list is stacked with so-called natural wines, or wines produced from organically grown grapes farmed with non-mechanized methods and finished without any additives. Courtney made the decision to shift the wine list in this direction about a year ago.

“It’s a very different experience for our customers, but one I thought was important to offer,” Courtney says.

“We got a few salty looks at first, but people have really responded to it.”

A generalized term that varies among winemaking regions, natural wines came onto the scene about 20 years ago, and they’ve slowly been gaining traction in

30

[225] May 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

the wine world. A number of Rocca’s natural wines are Italian, and they’re made by small, boutique vintners with small production runs. Rocca’s wine list, therefore, frequently changes.

But there’s always plenty to choose from. Of the restaurant’s 22 wines by the glass, 18 are natural, as are 90 of its 100 bottles.

Many of the natural wines are approachable, but a few feature slight funkiness, resulting from natural yeast and no synthetic alteration. If you’re unsure—and many of us fall into this category—ask for help. Rocca’s servers and bartenders have been trained to answer questions and provide samples.

For many wine aficionados, this is wine at its most authentic. roccapizzeria.com

—MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

KEY TERM

Natural wine Organically grown grapes are farmed with nonmechanized methods and finished without any additives.

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C OV E R S T ORY

BOURBON COUNTRY The Bourbon Society of Baton Rouge is creating community and giving back through a shared love of whiskey

THOUGH WE MAY be a ways away from Kentucky, Baton Rouge is inarguably a home to bourbon—and bourbon lovers.

The Bourbon Society of Baton Rouge, founded in 2015, is an almost 900 member-strong network of both amateur and adept aficionados of the sweet brown spirit. Members enjoy access to specialty bourbon releases and events like tastings, distillery tours and lots more.

One favorite tasting event among members is the “sample share,” where the society purchases specialty whiskeys straight from distilleries and portions them into 1-ounce sample bottles, which members purchase for a modest price and drink together in a virtual gathering where they share their takes on the selected spirit.

As for the “more,” this past month the Bourbon Society hosted a crawfish boil, complete with mint julep and bourbon lemonade refreshments, and a “Pre-Derby Ladies Night,” where female members were invited out to Painting and Pinot on Perkins Road to sip complimentary cocktails, learn about

partnered with numerous charities like Toys for the bourbon-infused tradition of the Kentucky Tots and, more recently, Alzheimer’s Services of Derby and design and assemble their own derbythe Capital Area, which was the sole recipient style fascinator hats. of proceeds from last fall’s Louisiana Bourbon And while the society’s vast membership first Festival—and will be again for the 2022 event. coalesced around such events and the simple “There are a lot of drinking clubs out there,” desire to “hang out and talk about whiskey”—in the says vice president Dorothy Kemp, “but I think words of founder David Steele—its purpose quickly you’d be hard pressed to find one evolved. that’s so focused on giving back to “I wanted to try to do the community and having a great something more than just time.” drinking bourbon,” Steele says.

Collectively, the society’s “And, doing these clubs, these charitable endeavors have yielded events, I recognized that everyone Amount The Bourbon Society of Baton about $250,000. Much of that else felt the same way.”

Rouge has raised for comes from its specialty bourbon In May 2019, what started charity since 2015. raffles, in which members enter as a casual drinking club was for the chance to win such coveted incorporated into a 501(c)(7) whiskeys as the Pappy Van Winkle organization, and the Bourbon 15-year and 10-year Bourbons and Society of Baton Rouge took up Willett purple-top bourbons, many of which are the mission that has since become its primary “truly impossible to find unless you win (them) directive: giving back. at a raffle,” Steele says. The charities get money, Since its incorporation, the society has

$250,000

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MAY 11 . 7:30 PM TICKETMASTER.COM

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SUSAN AND JACK DAMPF MEREDITH L. HATHORN AND RAWLEY M. PENNICK LONG LAW FIRM JOSEF STERNBERG MEMORIAL FUND

C OV E R S T ORY

SAVE THE DATE 2022 Louisiana Bourbon Festival Nov. 12, 2022 Renaissance Hotel 7000 Bluebonnet Blvd.

The Bourbon Society of Baton Rouge founder David Steele and vice president Dorothy Kemp, photographed at The Lost Cove

the members get to help and a lucky winner gets an exquisite bottle—or, sometimes, a barrel—of whiskey.

Everybody wins.

One particularly exquisite barrel comes from the society’s annual “Screw Cancer” Steele, Issue Date: May 2022 Adraffle. proof #2 who his father to cancer, takes the disease •lost Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minorseriously. revisions.

•Each AD WILLyear, RUN AS IS unless approval or finalarevisions are received the society receives specialty barrelwithin of 24 hours

bourbon from a partnering distillery and puts it up for raffle. This year’s barrel comes from Midwest Grain Products distillery, and Steele says the whiskey is being finished in unique casques designed especially for the raffle. More details on the 2022 Screw Cancer barrel raffle will be announced in June.

from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines.

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

EVERYTHING THE BOURBON Society of Baton Rouge focuses on culminates in the annual Louisiana Bourbon Festival.

On a fall day, diehard members and curious outsiders alike will get to come together to celebrate the organization’s dual-pronged M.O.: bourbon and charity. The event features educational seminars, guest speakers and the main event: a grand tasting. All proceeds go to Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area.

The 2022 Bourbon Festival is still in the planning phase, but Kemp and Steele insist it will be the biggest one yet. With the 2021 festival having been forced into the virtual realm thanks to COVID-19, the two say they can’t wait to debut a proper, full-fledged Louisiana Bourbon Festival.

Beyond that, Kemp and Steele say the goal is simple: Keep finding unique delicious bourbons to share with their members, and keep raising money for local charities:“We’re ready for more parties, more fun and giving more back to the community.”

—ZANE PIONTEK

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2022. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

FAMILY FUN DAY

COMING YOUR WAY! FREE Face Painting from 12 pm – 2 pm!

Kids Eat FREE with Adult Pizza Purchase!*

May 14 *Children must be AGES 10 and under and must be present to receive pizzas. One free single topping Kid’s Pizza per child present, up to two kids, with an adult pizza purchase at regular menu price. Extra, deluxe, and premium toppings cost extra.

Gluten-free and cauliflower crust costs extra.

4831 Rouzan Square Ave. Ste. C, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 • (225) 329-2662 • pizzaartista.com

225batonrouge.com | [225] May 2022

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A DV E R T I S E M E N T

28

TUESDAY 6:30 - 8:30 PM

JUNE

SUMMER NIGHTS PA R T Y

Put on your flip flops and your sunglasses as we cheers to summer and celebrate the 2022 Best of 225 winners! Join us at Three Roll Estate for cold drinks, local food trucks and the ultimate summer giveaway.

EVENT PARTNERS:

THREE ROLL ESTATE COCA-COLA | AETNA EVENT SPONSORS:

TO PURCHASE TICKETS, SCAN THE CODE OR VISIT 225SUMMERNIGHTS. EVENTBRITE.COM

C OV E R S T ORY

Mezcal cocktails

by Blue Corn: Mezcalita

Don’t MESS with

Madre Tierra

Mexican Mule

Blue Corn's Jose Bernon mixes up the Mexican Mule.

MEZCAL A primer on the spirit you’re seeing all over Baton Rouge bar menus OVER THE LAST several years, our relationship with tequila has transitioned from spring break mettle tester to nuanced sipper.

And as fine tequilas have become more commonplace, so too have other forms of agave spirits— notably mezcal.

A subset of tequila made from certain types of agave, mezcal is a bracing, clear liquor that’s often described as tequila’s smoky cousin. But it shouldn’t be limited to just that, say insiders. The flavor profile can also impart vegetal or floral notes, depending on the distillery. It’s great in cocktails, and is also frequently served neat in a tiny vessel or shot glass. Sips are alternated with bites of fresh orange slices sprinkled with sal de gusano, or worm salt, made from ground dried chiles and caterpillars found in the agave plant.

Lately, mezcal has become one of the trendier spirits on local cocktail menus. A number of restaurants, from Modesto and Rock Paper Taco to Gov’t Taco and Mestizo, serve different selections of mezcal for both sipping and savoring in cocktail form. Cocha recently held a mezcal tasting night with a guided tasting tour of mezcal and an original house cocktail.

“Mezcal has gotten really popular,” says Wendy Zubiate, general manager of Blue Corn Modern Mexican, which keeps anywhere from eight to 13 small-batch brands of mezcal on hand depending on what’s available.

The Perkins Road Mexican restaurant serves mezcal flights, margaritas made with mezcal, and

several different mezcal cocktails, including the mezcalinha, made with lime, sugar and shaved ice; the madre tierra, which marries mezcal with ginger beer, agave, passion fruit, cucumber and lime; and the luna llena, which pairs mezcal with mango, lime juice, dried peppers and agave nectar.

Blue Corn’s Joselo Salazar, who works on its bar program, says mezcal is an artisan spirit that’s intentionally less refined than tequila.

“It’s pure,” he says.

It’s also strong. Good mezcals are at least 43% alcohol, Salazar adds.

While tequila is made only from blue agave, mezcal is made from other species of the plant. Eight regions of Mexico are allowed to produce what’s considered real mezcal, Salazar says. Like many wines across the world, mezcal’s origins are regulated by region.

In cocktails, mezcal pairs nicely with citrus juices, Zubiate says.

Blue Corn’s mezcalini combines mezcal with one of its best mates, pineapple, along with lime juice and dried peppers.

But if you want to really sample mezcal’s nuances, order it neat with an orange slice dipped in worm salt, recommends Salazar.

Sip it like you would bourbon or Irish whiskey, alternating sips with a nibble of salty citrus. Of course, imbibers can also opt out of the citrus for an unadulterated experience.

Just don’t shoot it. bluecornrestaurant.com

—MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

KEY TERMS

BAR FLY

HEARD

86

More bar

The folks the bartenders are trying to nudge out the door when they put on “Closing Time” at the end of the night.

Where military personnel have “copy,” servers, bartenders, cooks and anyone else in the bar and restaurant industry have “heard,” a ubiquitous affirmative response. It’s how you say, “will do,” when asked to perform a task.

If something is 86’d, you’re out of it. “86 tequila, 86 limes,” you might hear if you hang around bars and have a tendency to eavesdrop. While there are many arguments for the origin of the term, the most common trace is back to military terminology.

LINGO

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• AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours from receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines.

• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

summer reading June 1 through August 15

Dive right in with East Baton Rouge Parish Library’s 2022 Summer Reading Program:

Just keep swimming toward fun events and reading rewards this summer! Join us for “Oceans of Possibilities!” It’s going to be splash-tastic!

Sign up at your local library branch or online at ebrpl.beanstack.org

7711 Goodwood Blvd. • Baton Rouge, LA 225-231-3760 • www.ebrpl.com •

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C OV E R S T ORY

Waze to

EXPLORING ADULT BEVERAGES at home and in bars in Baton Rouge has never been more interesting, and yet another way to enjoy the evolving movement is to sip your favorite restoratives at the very facilities where they’re made. Plan a visit to a Capital Area brewery or distillery, where you can sample, tour and enjoy regular events.

SIP

1. Tin Roof Brewing Company 1624 Wyoming St. tinroofbeer.com

Take a (designated) driving tour of the Capital Region's growing number of distilleries and breweries

By Maggie Heyn Richardson

There are all sorts of reasons to stop by Tin Roof, Baton Rouge’s first and largest craft brewery located in a hip warehouse off Nicholson Drive. Belly up to the tap room bar and sip the latest creation on draft, hear live music, sample tasty food truck fare and get your ohm on with outdoor yoga.

2. Rally Cap Brewing Company 11212 Pennywood Ave. rallycapbrewing.com

Cypress Coast Brewing

10

9

4

5

12

1

2 10

Rally Cap’s sportsthemed brewery and tap room features an evolving line-up of signature craft beers on tap. Sample pale ales, IPAs, stouts and a variety of sours made with different fruits. It is kid- and pet-friendly and features regular live music and trivia nights.

3. Gilla Brewing Company 13025 Highway 44, Gonzales gillabrewingco.com

7 3

10

6 8

Founded by home brewers and craft beer enthusiasts, Gilla is Ascension Parish’s first brewery, specializing in New England-style IPAs, fruity sours, pastry stouts and traditional ales and lagers. Sample these creations, as well as frozen cocktails and guest beers.

4. Cypress Coast Brewing Company

FILE PHOTOS

5643 Government St. cypresscoastbrewing. com Located in the same strip mall that holds Gov't Taco, Cypress Coast features cleverly named beers in a quaint setting, each produced by the team of homebrewers who opened

Three Roll Estate

the enterprise in 2020.

Try the “Oops I Wit it Again,” a crisp wheat beer served by draught or crowler. Bottoms up!

8. Sugarfield Spirits Co.

5. Le Chien Brewing Company

481 W. Eastbank St., Gonzales sugarfieldspiritsla.com

101 S. Hummell St., Denham Springs lechienbeer.com

Quickly making a name for itself, Sugarfield Spirits produces vodka, rum, gin, bourbon and a variety of liqueurs flavored with local ingredients. Stop in for a tour, and keep your eyes peeled for Sugarfield Spirits around town.

The distillery is partnering with a number of restaurants, like the new Juban’s, to showcase its products. It teamed up with Matador Vodka, the city’s first Black-owned sugarcane vodka brand, to make spirits.

This family-owned microbrewery in downtown Denham Springs has become a favorite among locals, featuring corn hole, trivia night, running club meet-ups, live music and even a traveling petting zoo.

Sumptuous options like the hoppy West Coast IPA pair beautifully with savory and sweet pastries from the onsite food truck, Pie-Eyed Hand Pies.

6. Istrouma Brewing Company 5590 Bayou Paul Road, St. Gabriel sugarfarmsla. com/beer/menu/ istrouma-beers There’s a lot going on at this multipurpose brewery in St. Gabriel.

Located on a working farm, Istrouma Brewing’s taproom features offbeat options like the Forbidden Fruit, a barley wine beer infused with figs, and the Tuxedo Stout, redolent with coconut.

Pair your beer sampling with a tour of the farm, a bite to eat and some outdoor games.

7. Laissez Versez 14141 Airline Highway, Building 3, Suite U lvdistillery.com Translated as “let it pour,” Laissez Versez specializes in distilled whiskey and flavored liqueurs, including blueberry, coconut, wedding cake and more.

Learn how these spirits are made on tours of the facility, or pick up

the selections at a number of regional stores.

9. Three Roll Estate 760 St. Phillip St. threeroll.com Located in downtown Baton Rouge next door to 13th Gate, Three Roll is part of the recent movement to reclaim Louisiana’s legacy as a rum producer. Using sugar cane grown on its sister property, Alma Plantation, the estate producer’s variety of rums—including hardto-find, rustic rhum agricole—and vodka are available for sampling in its hip tasting room.

10. Baton Rouge Distilling 11616 Industriplex Blvd., Suite 21 batonrougedistilling. com Rolling out small-batch strawberry brandy since 2016, Baton Rouge Distilling is the brainchild of a husband and wife team who love travel and sipping fine brandies. Along with fruit brandies, the small facility produces rye and bourbon. Check its social media for tours and tasting opportunities.

Istrouma Brewing Company 225batonrouge.com | [225] May 2022

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SPONSORED CONTENT

THE LOWDOWN

SPONSORED BY:

BRECHEEN PIPE AND STEEL CO.

A PIPELINE FOR WOMEN:

HOW ONE WOMAN IS HOLDING OPEN THE STEEL DOORS

L

et’s be frank: People don’t usually think of women in a steel mill. Since our foremothers stepped up during World War I, women have always been there—and today, schools and businesses are creating a pipeline to the industry for young women.

At the outbreak of World War I, men went overseas to fight the war. This left American factories, railways, and emergency services without a workforce. Although reluctant to hire women in more demanding forms of labor, the need for workers in munitions production eventually forced the issue. By 1916, the US government even held recruitment drives for women workers. Female employment rose to its highest in the country’s history. Women began filling traditionally male roles, working on the production floors, testing facilities, and storage yards at steel mills.

While steel manufacturing involves risky and hard work traditionally considered more suited for men, women can be found in every facet of industry today, occupying all positions, from

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manufacturing to sales to corporate leadership.

Danielle Brecheen is blazing a path for young women. Her company, Brecheen Pipe and Steel has become one of the most well-known vendors in the pipe and steel metal services industry in the Louisiana market. It recently received a National Women’s Business Certification, affirming that BPS is woman-owned, operated and controlled.

“I was going to be an orthopedic surgeon,” says Danielle. “After my first year at LSU, I spent the summer helping with clerical work at my parents’ steel company and never left.

I knew instantly that there were things about this business and its customers I really liked.”

While the process of steelmaking hasn’t changed, the business is becoming increasingly digitally driven and sustainable now. This creates loads of new opportunities for women to get a foot in the door. For instance, at Brecheen Pipe and Steel, there are two women

in accounting, Danielle and another woman in sales, and a woman who manages the back end in shipping and receiving.

Nowadays, there is more economic opportunity than ever with the oil field, refineries, chemical plants, and contractors. Danielle’s advice: “If you have the knowledge and want more for your life, it doesn’t matter what field you choose. Just pick one that will always need workers and you are set. I believe that anyone male or female can master any industry if they have a passion for what they are doing.”

Learn more about Danielle and her team at brecheenpipeandsteel.com.

C OV E R S T ORY

Special

SPIRITS

Eight out-of-the-box concoctions to push you outside of your cocktail comfort zone IT CAN BE easy to stick with the same drink order at the bar.

But what if you switched it up and tried something new—or even a little whacky? Baton Rouge bars stock more than simple syrups and fruit toppings. Locals can explore everything from egg whites to sage leaves to balsamic vinaigrette in their craft cocktails. Add some variety to your night on the town with one of these unique cocktails.

—CYNTHEA CORFAH

White Walker at Hayride Scandal This foamy drink is made from aged Haitian rum, sage and egg white served in an elegant martini glass. hayridescandal.com Spring Affair at Olive or Twist What better way to kick off the spring than with this herbal libation? It’s made with gin, Nardini Acqua di Cedro, lavender bitters, lemon, honey, egg white and rosemary. oliveortwistbr.com Garden Basil Matini at BLDG 5 Bring the feeling of a garden party to your taste buds. This upscale martini is made with vodka, basil, lime, triple sec, simple syrup and topped with edible flowers and other fresh picks from the garden. bldg5.com

Olive or Twist’s Spring Affair cocktail garnished with— yes!—a dandelion

Reve Pink Moon at Reve Coffee Lab BTR Are you feeling sour or sweet?

This Reve treat is packed with tart and refreshing flavors including dark rum, lemon juice, orange liqueur, muddled blueberries, cardamom bitters and molasses bitters. revecoffeeroasters.com

Strawberry Basil Daiquiri at Tallulah Crafted Food and Wine Bar Balsamic vinegar isn’t just for salads. This Strawberry Basil Daiquiri is made with Myer’s Dark rum, strawberries, basil, balsamic vinegar and lime for a sweet and tangy frozen getaway. tallulahrestaurant.com The Sage Yourself at Kalurah Street Grill We could all use some good energy. Why not try this revitalizing cocktail? It’s shaken with Sugarfield Spirits gin, Domaine De Canton ginger liqueur, simple syrup, lemon juice and sage leaves. kalurahstreetgrill.com The Legal Tender at Gov’t Taco Adults like lemonade, too. The Legal Tender, also known as an adult campfire lemonade, is equal parts smoky, spicy and sweet, featuring Banhez mezcal, passion fruit liqueur, Ancho Reyes Verde chile poblano liqueur, lemon and cucumber bitters. govttaco.com Monkey Around at Blend This bold drink isn’t for beginners. It is made with Monkey Shoulder scotch, 10-year-old Laphroaig green chartreuse and Luxardo Sangue Morlacco aged cherry liqueur. blendbr.com

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8 great restaurants offering deals on food and drinks!

Limited number available!

M AY 2 0 2

2

Buy one or buy all at 225BestEats.com *Please view each offer for specific details and restrictions.

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C OV E R S T ORY

MATCH made in

HEAVEN How to pair wine and cheese like an expert

PAIRING COMPLEMENTARY WINE and cheese is an art.

Pinpointing a wine’s ability to elevate a cheese’s unique flavors requires a deep knowledge and appreciation for the duo’s individual special qualities.

Wine and cheese pairings can make or break a charcuterie board or wine tasting. While there’s many different pairing methods, there are a handful of fundamental tips to get you pairing like a pro. Instead of guessing which wine and cheese to couple, take some notes from the local experts: sommelier and owner of Blend Restaurant and Wine Bar Scott Higgins and food stylist and owner of Bites and Boards Robyn Nicosia Parker. bitesandboards.com and blendbr.com

—CYNTHEA CORFAH

What grows together, goes together.

Scott Higgins: You can always look at the region that the wine or cheese comes from to determine what pairs well. For example, tempranillo wine and manchego cheese pair well because they both originate from Spain.

A cheese and wine spread expertly curated by Bites and Boards owner Robyn Nicosia Parker and Blend Restaurant and Wine Bar owner Scott Higgins.

Robyn Nicosia Parker: A classic pairing would be an aged Rioja (red or white) with an aged manchego.

The aged white Rioja gets super nutty and makes a great match to the nutty flavors that aged manchego brings.

Contrast tastes and textures.

Higgins: I am big on textures. If you have something rich and high in fat, you can cut it with something high in acid. Aged cheeses are low in water and have a higher salt content, so I add acid by having a high acid wine (like riesling) to pair with the saltier cheeses. You can also contrast a salty cheese with a sweet wine, such as dessert wines and blue cheese.

Mirror similar flavors and textures.

Higgins: A buttery chardonnay can pair well with a buttery cheese or a dish with a buttery sauce. The same goes for pairing rustic wines with rustic cheese.

Nicosia Parker: Another pairing direction is harder cheeses with “harder” wines and softer cheeses with “softer” wines. Basically, pair their intensities, but also keep in mind

the texture of the cheese, as well.

Fresh and soft cheeses, such as brie, camembert and feta, love crisp white wines, dry rosés and sparkling wines.

Medium-aged cheeses are firmer in texture and stronger in flavor. Pairing duos to try would be: havarti with chardonnay and Gruyere with merlot.

Stinky cheeses such as taleggio and Morbier call for light-bodied wines like riesling or pinot noir. Harder cheeses love full-bodied whites and tannic reds.

Acidic wines enhance cheese flavors.

Higgins: Acidity makes you salivate.

We taste our food better when we salivate. In Italy, they serve a drink before your meal that has low alcohol and has a bittering agent (acid) to make you salivate and taste your food better.

Bubbly wines pair with (almost) everything.

Higgins: When in doubt, you can always go to bubbly wines. Unless both your dessert and Champagne are very sweet. If you have a weird cheese, pair it with bubbles. It washes your palate off every single sip because of the bubbles. It also helps you get less palate fatigue if you’re doing several wine and cheese pairings.

Nicosia Parker: Although there are infinite possibilities for wine and cheese pairing ideas, the good news is your guests will be thrilled with whatever you pour and platter, so enjoy the experience.

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C OV E R S T ORY

CAPTURE-WORTHY 10 local drinks that prove mixology is an art

1.

Solera G&T at Solera Want a mystical drink? Order this vibrant purple gin and tonic, made from butterfly pea flower tea-infused gin, Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.’s Classic Tonic Syrup and soda. solerabr.com

6.

2.

7.

Aromatherapy at Kalurah Street Grill Get restored with a cloudy blue drink shaken with Turmeon Blue Velvet Violet Gin, St.-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, egg white, rose syrup, and lemon and lavender bitters. It’s garnished with Westdome Nursery edible flowers. kalurahstreetgrill.com

3.

Affogato Martini at Light House Coffee Coffee, ice cream and alcohol?

You can’t go wrong. This root beer float-looking dessert is made with vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, coffee liqueur, ice cream and espresso served on a small wooden plate with a spoon. lighthousecoffeebr.com

4.

San Sebastian at BLDG 5 This traditional Spanishstyle gin and tonic is the perfect combination of light, refreshing and fruity. It includes gin, tonic syrup and soda water garnished with fresh grapefruit and decorative thyme. bldg5.com

5.

Lemon Ice Box at Mid City Beer Garden Stay cool with a Lemon Ice Box, a sweet, citrusy and boozy frozen drink. The yellow daiquiri is topped with whipped cream and a graham cracker. midcitybeergarden.com.

The Red Stick at The Radio Bar Celebrate Baton Rouge with a Capital City Cocktail. This rubyred cocktail features blackberryinfused bourbon made in-house and a sage garnish. theradiobar.com The Moon Drip at Reve Coffee Lab BTR This cool-toned cocktail will have you over the moon. The Moon Drip is made with gin, Reve’s color-changing Mood Tea, lime juice, simple syrup and peach liqueur. revecoffeeroasters.com

SOMETIMES, A COCKTAIL’S presentation is just as important as its taste. Vivid-colored spirits, textured garnishes and elegant glassware can upgrade adult beverages to the next level. Upgrade your go-to drink order—and your Instagram feed—with one of these picturesque cocktails at local bars, restaurants and coffee shops around town.

—CYNTHEA CORFAH

Solera's mystical-looking Solera G&T cocktail

8.

Frozen Satsuma Rocca Rita at Rocca Pizzeria You’ve probably tried orange juice, but have you had satsuma juice? This fresh frozen margarita includes tequila, Louisiana satsuma juice, lime and agave.

It has a bold citrus color and is presented in a salt-rimmed glass. roccapizzeria.com

9.

Espresso Martini at City Roots Coffee Bar Enjoy coffee afterhours with this espresso martini. The shaken martini is made with vodka, Kahlua, City Roots espresso and a dash of sweetener, garnished with perfectly placed dark roasted espresso beans. cityrootscoffee.com

10.

Diving into

DIVE BARS Baton Rouge has a wide selection of long-running, off-the-beatenpath bars that will make you feel at home. We’ve rounded up few local favorites at 225batonrouge.com/food-drink.

Bloody Mary at The Overpass Merchant This interpretation of the Sunday brunch staple is made with Three Olives vodka and Fergie’s Bloody Mary mix topped with a slice of lemon and lime, pickled veggies and a chili-salted-rim. theoverpassmerchant.com

COCKTAILS 42

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Bring Your Besties Discover the best of Baton Rouge with the Friends Pass and enjoy discounts and deals on the experiences, restaurants and attractions that make this city special. www.visitbatonrouge.com/friendspass

The best care for kids in Louisiana!

Children’s Hospital New Orleans is proud to be the only children’s hospital in Louisiana or Mississippi ranked by Newsweek’s Best Specialty Hospitals in the World for Pediatrics. This ranking is a reflection of Children’s Hospital’s unwavering commitment to provide the best possible care for kids right here in Louisiana!

Find a provider in Baton Rouge today at chnola.org

I N S I D E : Style at the Baton Rouge Fashion Experience

Transformed

treasures Tiggy&Teddy’s chic-meets-campy accessories utilize refurbished pieces to make a one-of-a-kind statement B Y ME G RYA N / / P H OTOS BY CO L L I N R I C H I E

STYLE //

Who will be the

g n i s Ri ? s r a St 225 Rising Stars special advertising section will celebrate young athletes who work hard and dream big! Each student recognized has excelled in their high school sport by demonstrating physical talent and exceptional character. Next month, find out which local high school athletes will be 225 Rising Stars.

Coming this June

CREATING SOMETHING NEW from something found is the foundation of Kaitlyn Stockwell’s creative process.

With a background in and passion for vintage shopping, Stockwell is the founder and creative behind Tiggy&Teddy, a Baton Rouge accessories brand utilizing repurposed materials to produce chic-meetscampy pieces. The line includes earrings, necklaces and bolo ties.

Stockwell launched Tiggy&Teddy on a whim in January 2021. She’d started taking apart secondhand jewelry to create stylish chains for COVID-19 masks. As friends noticed the unique pieces, they began to ask if she’d make them for others. When Louisiana’s mask mandate was lifted that October, Stockwell pivoted and expanded her product line.

Today, she makes jewelry and accessories from her Mid City home office, selling her items at Baton Rouge pop-up events, online and at Time Warp Boutique—where, while working at the shop in high school and college as a sales associate, her love for vintage and repurposed items was first born.

Each Tiggy&Teddy piece has its own unique look. Stockwell aims to create something upscale with a hint of fun. Her Instagram showcases bolo ties made with chains and pendants, mismatched geometric earrings and bracelets adorned with colorful alphabet beads.

The construction process varies per piece, taking anywhere from two hours to two days to complete, which she balances with her full-time job as a talented theater teacher at Woodlawn

“When I get dressed up for an event, I love wearing my statement pieces. My everyday wear is a bit more basic, and a lot of my new Tiggy&Teddy pieces lend themselves to that (too).”

—Tiggy&Teddy founder Kaitlyn Stockwell

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STYLE //

kicks off fridays at 5pm

downtown baton rouge

clock out rock out

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“When I get dressed up for an event, I love wearing my statement pieces,” Stockwell says. “My everyday wear is a bit more basic, and a lot of my new Tiggy&Teddy pieces lend themselves to that, like lapel pins and sliding lariat necklaces.”

Stockwell’s favorite part of Tiggy&Teddy has been the creative process. Seeing customers drawn to her pieces is an added bonus. Along with her own designs, she will create custom pieces for clients looking for something specific.

“Everybody’s been so pleased so far, which is really nice,” Stockwell adds.

To shop, visit tiggyandteddy.com or find her on Instagram at @tiggy.and.teddy.

april 8

High School. And the sourcing takes time, too. Stockwell scours estate sales and thrift stores—even sometimes a friend or family’s closet—for accessories she can dissemble and give a second life to. “(I look for) anything that pops out at me as being unique, different, but also hip on trends,” she says.

In the early days of the company, Stockwell repurposed every part of a piece, even down to the jump ring. But now, as she says her business’ visibility and demand have grown, she’ll mix in new hardware to complete items.

Tiggy&Teddy’s designs add a pop of charm to any outfit. Stockwell’s personal style is neutral and classic, allowing her accessories to start the conversation.

april 29

Tiggy&Teddy makes use of repurposed, vintage and new materials for its bracelets, necklaces and bolo ties.

march 25

ROCK

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STYLE //

STREET STYLE

Off the runway

Williams painted the coat’s graphics himself.

By Zane Piontek // Photos by Ariana Allison

Schwan Scott

What attendees wore to the Baton Rouge Fashion Experience WE SHOWED UP early to this spring’s inaugural Baton Rouge Fashion Experience to capture some of the unique looks of those in attendance. Hosted

by Project Innovate Studios, the event was a multifaceted fashion show accented with musical performances, poetry readings and film previews. As exciting as the onstage looks were, the audience was also full of creatives and arts enthusiasts.

Here, you’ll find just a handful of the styles they sported—all of them sharp, many swervy Issue Maythe 2022 and eachDate: embodying ever- Ad proof #2 • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. happening intersection of • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approvalart or final revisions are received within 24 hours fromfashion. receipt of this proof. A shorter timeframe will apply for tight deadlines. and

Scott, 47, is a medical office assistant from New Orleans and the mother of Pharez Scott, the mind behind GPU Terminal, one of the fashion brands featured in the show.

Brennan ‘Bsmoke’ Williams Williams, 20, is an artist and graphic designer from New Iberia.

He sits on the Project Innovate Studios committee and designed the event’s flyers. He enjoys painting and tattoo art.

THE ’FIT All-in-one hoodie (a GPU Terminal original) with detachable hood and large zipper pouches on the sleeves. The glasses were a gift from her husband.

THE ’FIT Coat from ASOS with custom graphics he painted himself; custom Nike Reaper Dunks by Los Angeles artist Warren Lora, worn out from skating and patched with his own designs. The rest was thrifted.

HER STYLE “Edgy, trendy—and that’s about it.” And of course, she loves stunting in her son’s creations.

HIS STYLE Williams loves to skate, so he favors rugged clothing that can stand up to hard wear. He draws heavy inspiration from street style.

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LIKE US ON

STYLE //

Shelton Rees Rees, 22, originally hails from the New Orleans West Bank, graduated from LSU in fashion merchandising and works at Sneaker Politics.

THE ’FIT Shirt from Kapital, jeans from WHO DECIDES WAR and slides from Suicoke.

Jennifer Andalib Andalib, 20, studies French at LSU and is an artist and musician. She also works as a caretaker for a young girl with autism.

HIS STYLE Rees favors pieces that display attention to detail and quality craftsmanship—and, of course, a dose of maximalist flair.

THE ’FIT The top was a loan from her friend Emma Kerwin (pictured left) and the rose-gold necklace was a gift from her friends. The skirt was from +234 (one of the designers featured in the fashion show). “We were going for a schoolgirl theme,” she says.

Emma Kerwin Kerwin is a 20-year-old studio art student at LSU, cashier at Private Stock and Baton Rouge native. She says she’s been watching Project Innovate Studios grow from the very beginning.

HER STYLE “I don’t feel like it’s as fully developed as I want it to be … But I’ve been loving looser clothes and styles; it’s just easier to work with,” she says. She tends to match her color palettes to her current hair color, drawing from knowledge of complementary shades that she’s developed through her work in visual art.

THE ’FIT Platform shoes courtesy her mom; thrifted carpenter pants, corset and shirt; headphones by Sennheiser; handmade bracelets. The knuckle duster earrings were a gift from a friend, and the bag is a converted Supreme bucket hat (her own work).

HER STYLE of random stuff,” she says.

Issue Date: May 2022“It’s Ada lot proof #1 She’s an avid thrift-hound and “a • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or revisions. shameless minor Instagram shopper.”

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ONLINE Check out more looks from this event at 225batonrouge.com/style-home.

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I N S I D E : Recipes fit for the bridal party

Go fish

COLLIN RICHIE

Drinking in the fresh and varied flavors of Drunken Fish

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THE BASICS: A nod to its name, the walls of Drunken Fish are peppered with murals of fish that appear to be indulging in sake. It’s the fish on the menu, though, that are worth getting drunk off of at this Highland Road gem. Sushi and sashimi alike are fresh and luscious. The proximity to LSU makes this a popular spot for college students, but this is a worthy stop for all ages and walks of life.

WHAT’S A MUST: The multi-page menu can read like a mini chapter book, with options ranging from sushi to pho to vermicelli. If you like pho, try a bowl of Hi Tieu, a soul-comforting soup with clear rice noodles and your pick of seafood or veggies. The Dare Devil beef and rice entree will turn the whole table into chefs—with a skillet atop a small tabletop stove allowing diners to cook the meat to their liking.

Be the chef! On a tabletop stove, diners cook the Dare Devil beef to their liking.

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R E S TA U R A N T R E V I E W

SCAN TO GET STARTED

Drunken Fish B Y D. J. B E AU TI C I A / / P H OTO S B Y CO LLIN RICHIE

Our food critic’s name may be false, but the credentials are not. This gastronome has studied the history, cultivation, preparation, science and technology of food for more than 30 years.

Find Drunken Fish on Facebook 4410 Highland Road Sunday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Closed Saturdays

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INSIDE A SMALL strip mall near the gates of LSU lies a variety of tastes both commercial and curated. In the curated category, there’s Drunken Fish. The restaurant offers an interesting combination of Vietnamese and Japanese cuisines.

During our visit, we opted for both— beginning with Tai Ceviche Salad with a tasty mix of onion, cilantro, jalapeño and lime. A magnificent mound of fresh red snapper was sprinkled with a spicy seasoning mix and a side of ponzu. The fish was indeed fresh, with a lovely chew punctuated by pops of masago fish eggs that burst in our mouths. Ponzu added just the right sweet salinity to complete the dish.

We decided to bypass the

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Drunken Fish sushi chef Khoi Nguyen

Hit a home run by calling Southern Air of Baton Rouge

mayonnaise-laden House Special Rolls in favor of a roll that put the raw fish front and center. Tokyo Roll fit the bill, with its yellowtail and tuna cozily wrapped in seaweed and rice. I prefer my rolls straightforward, and this mix of fish peppered with green onion and sesame was right up my alley.

As a means of testing the freshness of the fish, we ordered two sashimi options: salmon, and my partner’s favorite, yellowtail. The yellowtail was like buttah. Sashimi salmon is my personal favorite, and while it was fresh, tender and oh-so luscious, it still couldn’t hold a candle to the opulent yellowtail.

The menu has an interesting bunch of entrees, especially the Dare Devil.

Marinated beef is served with steamed broccoli and rice. But what makes this

A decade of reviews This month’s review marks exactly 10 years since D.J. Beauticia became 225’s resident restaurant critic.

After penning more than 120 reviews, Beauticia signs off this month with one final review. Beauticia has been our anonymous culinary expert since 2012, and we thank them for the value they’ve added not just to 225, but to the restaurant community at large. We have no doubt 225 readers have discovered many new restaurants thanks to Beauticia’s thoughtful critiques. (And don’t worry— we’ll still publish restaurant reviews. Stay tuned to next month’s 225 for more.)

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dish so unique is the cooking method: a cast iron skillet served atop a small tabletop stove to allow diners to cook it to their individual preferences.

The slices of meat we were served were the perfect thinness to make for rare morsels, and the accompanying marinade was reminiscent of teriyaki.

As the beef hit the pan, it created a head-turning aroma that had the neighboring diners looking over with jealousy.

We declared the Hi Tieu bowl a clean, simple pick that was so, so good.

A chicken broth-based alternative to pho, the noodles were slightly thinner but with the usual accompaniments of cilantro, jalapeños, Thai basil and limes.

I found a delightful sweetness to the broth and thought any additions would mar rather than enhance the flavor. My partner, too, proclaimed it a definitive reason to return.

We both left utterly satisfied but slightly saddened. Why? Because this was the first we’ve ever graced this fine establishment. Drunken Fish’s magnificent flavors have been absent from our lives for years—but no more.

Wonderfully worthy of repeat visits, Issue Date: add May 2022 proof #4 you too should this to yourAd regular The Tokyo Roll places fresh fish front and center: • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. rotation.

Sooner, not later. yellowtail and tuna are wrapped in seaweed and • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours

The Hi Tieu bowl is a chicken broth-based alternative to pho with slightly thinner noodles.

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The Pre-Professional Program at Tari’s School of Dance: serious training for the serious student

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HOT OFF THE PRESS THURSDAY JUNE 2, 2022 6:00-8:00 PM TALLULAH CRAFTED FOOD & WINE BAR RENAISSANCE HOTEL Join us in toasting to the 2022 edition of inRegister Weddings with live music by Capital City Soul, giveaways, and more!

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DINING IN

Bridal bites Recipes for a wedding day bridal party lunch

BY TRACE Y KO CH PHOTOS B Y A M Y S H UT T

On the menu • Greek-style Vegetable Pasta Salad • Curry Chicken Salad • Wedding Cookies with Chocolate Whipped Cream and Berries • Don’t forget lots of chilled Champagne!

Recipes by Tracey Koch

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IT IS HARD for me to believe, but I am celebrating my 30th wedding anniversary this month. Let’s face it: Three decades is a significant amount of time. But at the risk of sounding cliché: Wow, that time flew by!

Thankfully, there have been some great updates to how couples plan their weddings since my big day.

Online registry, for one, was not available back in 1992. But my favorite improvement is the newlyweds taking a few minutes between the ceremony and reception to catch their breath, freshen up and have something to eat and drink before walking into their reception.

I know this is not a new practice, but it was not the case at my wedding.

My husband and I were whisked from the ceremony straight to our reception, where we got stuck in a receiving line for two hours. The only thing we had to eat at the reception was a bite

of wedding cake when we cut it for pictures. By time we left our reception, we were starving. We tried to find a late-night drive-thru on the way to the hotel, but we ended up settling for leftover wedding cake and a hot Sprite from the Hilton New Orleans Airport Hotel vending machine.

My trip down memory lane brings me to the theme for this month’s menu: the importance of making sure the bride, groom and their attendants have something to eat before the wedding. Most couples are too nervous or busy to eat on their day.

So, I decided to prep a delicious “do-ahead” menu that can be served while the wedding party is getting dressed, touching up make-up and posing for pictures. These dishes are hearty and satisfying without weighing anyone down. They’re easy to make—and the perfect meal to enjoy before heading down the aisle.

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Dr. Ritchie’s

PET TOOTH TRUTHS Q: Are dental x-rays needed?

A: Yes! Full mouth imaging is the most important part of every dentistry procedure.

Without imaging, the majority of important issues are missed, and your pet is sent home without proper treatment.

Greek-style Vegetable Pasta Salad Pasta salad is such a throwback from the late ’80s and early ’90s. I made it all the time back in the day. It’s great because you can add any type of vegetable to fit many different flavor profiles. This Greek-inspired version is easy to throw together, and it’s full of veggies and just the right amount of carbs to satisfy without feeling heavy. I added in garbanzo beans for some extra protein, and using a whole-wheat pasta offers a little extra fiber. You could also incorporate some grilled chicken to make this dish a complete all-in-one meal. This pasta salad can be made a day in advance and stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Servings: 6-8 For the dressing: 2 cloves minced garlic 1 teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard ¼ teaspoon dried mint ½ teaspoon dried oregano ½ cup red wine vinegar 1 cup extra virgin olive oil ½ vegetable oil ½ cup crumbled feta cheese

4. Cover the dressing and chill until you

are ready to toss the salad. This dressing may be made a couple of days ahead of time.

For the salad: 1 pound rotini or penne pasta (whole-wheat optional) 1 English cucumber, chopped 1 pint grape tomatoes, cut in half 1 (8-ounce) jar marinated artichoke heart quarters 1 (4- to 6-ounce) jar roasted red bell peppers, cut into strips 8 ounces Kalamata olives 8-ounce can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup chopped fresh baby spinach ½ cup crumbled feta cheese

1. Cook the pasta according to the

package directions. Drain it well and toss it with a little olive oil to keep the pasta from sticking together. Place into a large mixing bowl.

2. Add the cucumbers, tomatoes,

it over the pasta salad. Stir everything together until well combined.

4. Cover the pasta and chill it until you are ready to serve. This can be made one day in advance.

2. Slowly whisk in the olive oil and

5. Before serving the pasta salad, toss in

cheese.

Dental care is vital to the overall health of any animal. The Perkins Road Veterinary Hospital is home to the only board certified Veterinary Dentist and Oral Surgeon in the state of Louisiana, Dr. Curt Ritchie. Dr. Ritchie has been teaching veterinary dentistry at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine for nearly a decade. He and his staff help patients everyday with basic dental and preventative care to very advanced, complex oral surgeries.

3. Whisk the dressing and pour half of

the garlic, salt, pepper, mustard, mint, oregano and vinegar until smooth.

3. Add in ½ cup of the crumbled feta

A: Cone Beam CT is the standard imaging I use on all of my patients. It allows me to see 3D objects in 3D rather than 2D like x-rays do. I routinely find things on CT that would have been missed with x-rays alone. I can better diagnose and treat when imaging with CT. Everyone wants the best for their pet and Cone Beam CT has been a game changer.

artichoke hearts, roasted bell peppers, olives and garbanzo beans.

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine

vegetable oil until well combined.

Q: Why do you use Cone Beam CT on your patients?

the chopped spinach and the remaining dressing. Adjust the seasonings by adding salt and pepper to taste. Top with the ½ cup of crumbled feta, and serve.

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Curry Chicken Salad Chicken salad is a favorite of mine. It is so versatile and always a crowd pleaser.

It is chock-full of protein, and it’s a dish that only gets better if you make it ahead of time. I especially like this chunky chicken salad recipe because it’s the perfect balance of savory and sweet. The dressing’s curry flavor and the pineapple

and dried cranberries complement the savory chicken, crispy celery and crunchy toasted almonds. All of these flavors and textures elevate a chicken salad, making it appropriately elegant to serve on such a special occasion.

Servings: 6-8

For the chicken: 6-8 boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 teaspoon kosher salt 2 cloves minced garlic ½ teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon curry powder 2 tablespoons white wine or sherry vinegar ½ cup olive oil

1. Rinse and trim the chicken breasts.

Place them on a cutting board.

2. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the chicken. Use a mallet to gently pound out the breast to ½-inch thick. This will ensure an even cooking time and will help to keep the chicken breast tender. Place the chicken breast into a Ziploc bag.

3. Whisk together the remaining

ingredients and pour them over the chicken breasts. Seal the bag and place in the fridge for several hours or overnight.

4. Heat your grill or oven to 375 degrees.

For the salad: 1 cup chopped celery ½ cup chopped green onions 1 cup dried cranberries 1 cup low-fat mayonnaise (We suggest Hellmann’s) 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon curry powder ½ teaspoon Creole seasoning 1 cup fresh cut pineapple ½ cup toasted slivered almonds

1. Place the chopped celery, green onions and dried cranberries into the bowl with the cooked chicken.

2. In a separate mixing bowl whisk

together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, curry powder and Creole seasoning.

Pour it over the chicken. Cover and place the chicken salad into the fridge for several hours to allow the flavors to come together.

3. Before serving, add in the chopped

pineapple and toasted slivered almonds.

If grilling, cook the marinated chicken breasts 5 to 6 minutes per side. If roasting in the oven, place the marinated chicken breasts onto a lined baking sheet and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the juices run clear.

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5. Cool the chicken. Cut it into bite-sized pieces. Place the chicken into a large mixing bowl and set it aside.

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THE LOWDOWN

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meal will help your body break down the food you eat more easily. This helps you digest food more effectively and get the most nutrients out of your meals. You can get some fluids through the foods that you eat—especially foods high in water content, such as fruits and vegetables.

3. GET MORE SHUT-EYE

FORGET THE FADS:

4 SMALL STEPS TO GET FIT AND STAY THAT WAY

W

armer days are here, and as we shed our winter clothes for shorts and swimsuits, many of us would like to shed a few pounds, too. But slimming down for summer doesn’t mean we have to jump on board with the latest fad diets and spend all our free time at the gym. Real change comes from taking small steps—slight shifts in your perspective and behaviors. How do we do that? We went straight to the world-renowned researchers for this: Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Here are their workable tips for making positive changes and creating lasting habits for a fit and healthy life.

First, give yourself grace. The last couple of years have been difficult, and most people have developed unhealthy habits and coping mechanisms. While it’s entirely understandable, it’s important to start making better choices and get your body back on track.

But suddenly outlawing all sweets, demanding long workouts and enforcing restrictions to achieve better health is a strategy that will only backfire and set you up for failure. Start with the simplest changes — ones that you can adopt and feel good about. Here, Pennington Biomedical shares 4 small shifts we can all make to get fit, look great, and live better.

1. FOOD IS FUEL

Shift your perspective and start a new relationship with food. It’s important to see food not as a reward, but as necessary as gas in the car. Adding fruits and vegetables to your diet is one of the best changes you can make in your diet to not only boost your heath, but also help manage your weight. They supply tons of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber with very few calories. Start by adding one new veggie to your weekly grocery list, and eventually add a vegetable to your dinner five to seven days per week. Studies show that people with produce-rich diets are at lower risk of health problems like dementia, depression, digestive problems, high blood pressure and Type 2 diabetes.

2. STAY HYDRATED

Getting enough water every day is important for your health. Changing to water can cut down on calories as you drink less of other beverages. Giving up that morning mocha latte or sweet tea isn’t always easy, so Pennington Biomedical recommends replacing just one beverage per day with water, then expanding to water comprising half of your daily drinks and eventually most of them. Research has shown that drinking water before, during, and after a

Like eating and drinking, sleep is an essential function that your body needs to survive and function properly. This is why not getting enough sleep can be damaging to both your mental and physical health. Sleep helps maintain a healthy balance of appetite hormones that make you feel hungry and full. Not getting enough of it is likely to make you feel hungrier and eat more throughout the day. Sleep deprivation can also increase cravings for less healthy foods, further making weight management more challenging. How do you get there?

Pennington Biomedical recommends creating a bedtime routine for yourself and turning off your devices to eliminate the distraction.

4. MOVE MORE

It’s more than just tracking steps. Taking regular walks can improve your physical and mental health. Routines are easy to stick to when you have support. A walk with family or friends will get everyone away from the screens and allow some bonding time. Walking regularly can also help decrease the risk of developing conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, diabetes, colon cancer and obesity. Pennington Biomedical recommends beginning with 20 minutes per day and gradually increasing it to 60 minutes per day.

Participate in a study! Pennington Biomedical can help to establish healthy, easy-to-maintain routines for you and your family. With research studies available for participants of all ages, you can get the tools and support you need to make meaningful changes and keep them for life. Visit pbrc.edu to stay informed on the latest health and nutrition findings from the researchers at Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

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Wedding Cookies Serve with Chocolate Whipped Cream and Berries

Wedding cookies, sometimes known as Mexican wedding cookies or Italian wedding cookies, are simply delightful. They are one of the first cookies I learned how to bake and are made with just a few ingredients. The traditional recipes call for finely ground almonds or, sometimes, pecans.

Personally, I like to combine pistachios along with the almonds. This combination gives these cookies a delicious nutty, buttery flavor, and I find it even makes the texture a little more moist.

These wedding cookies are the perfect little pick-up sweet to finish off this light meal.

5. Use a small cookie scoop or teaspoon to form the dough into balls. Place them on a cookie sheet and bake for 15 to 17 minutes. Make sure the cookies are baked through but not browned.

Yields 3 dozen

Chocolate Whipped Cream and Berries

1 cup finely ground almonds 1 cup finely ground toasted pistachios 1 ½ cups softened butter 2 cups powdered sugar 3 cups sifted flour 1 tablespoon vanilla 1 ½ teaspoons almond extract ½ teaspoon salt

7. Store the cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

I always like to serve fresh berries and whipped cream along with any pick-up dessert. The addition of a little chocolate to the fresh whipped cream is a fun extra surprise.

Servings: 6 to 8

1. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Heat

the oven to 325 degrees.

2. Place the almonds and pistachios into a food processor. Pulse until they are finely ground and resemble sand.

Fresh strawberries (or berry of your choice) 1 pint heavy whipping cream 1/3 cup chocolate milk powder (Nesquik)

1. Pour the heavy whipping cream into a chilled bowl.

3. In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter until light and fluffy. Carefully add in the powdered sugar, and continue mixing until well combined.

4. Gradually add in the ground nuts, flour, vanilla and almond extract until all is incorporated.

6. Remove the cookies from the oven, allowing them to cool slightly. Roll the warm cookies in the remaining cup of powdered sugar. Place them on a cooling rack to cool completely.

2. Use an electric mixer to whip the cream until soft peaks begin to form.

3. Pour in the chocolate milk powder and continue mixing until stiff peaks form.

4. Keep the chocolate whipped cream chilled until you are ready to serve. This can be made a couple of hours ahead of time.

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Aetna Better Health® of Louisiana Aetna Better Health of Louisiana is part of Aetna®, one of the nation’s leading health care providers and a part of the CVS Health® family. We have over 30 years of experience serving Medicaid populations, including children, adults and people with disabilities or other serious health conditions.

We bring our national experience to your communities. We understand how important it is to get care close to home. We are proud to be members of your communities, living and working here in Louisiana.

You deserve to be a leader in your own care. We’re a state-contracted health plan that offers Healthy Louisiana services. And we’re here for members statewide, in all 64 parishes.

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• Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

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WELCOME TO

Livingston Parish

Come and discover the wonders of southeast Louisiana!

From first-class golfing to an award winning Antique District, we offer something for everyone.

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CULTURE I N S I D E : BRSO does Beethoven at the River Center / Arts + Music Best Bets

Laughter heals Silly Rabbit Comedy Club makes history as the first Black-owned comedy club in Baton Rouge B Y CYN THE A CO R FA H // P H OTOS B Y CO L L I N R I C H I E

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Former comedian Shedrick “Seddy Sed” Marshall opened Silly Rabbit Comedy Club earlier this year.

BATON ROUGE ENTREPRENEUR and retired comedian Shedrick “Seddy Sed” Marshall has always wanted to open his own comedy club. When he first started his stand-up career in 2001, he remembers writing down this goal on a vision board.

That vision came to life this past January when Marshall opened Silly Rabbit Comedy Club, a Baton Rouge comedy and entertainment venue on Airline Highway.

“This is a place for people to forget what’s going on in their lives and laugh the pain away,” Marshall says. “I want to heal the world with laughter.”

Silly Rabbit Comedy Club is Baton Rouge’s first Black-owned comedy club. It includes an intimate stage, seating for more than 140 people and a stylish bar with drink specials. It hosts comedy shows, poetry readings, open mic nights, crawfish nights and various types of entertainment by local and national performers.

Previous comedy show headliners have already included Ashima Franklin from Def Comedy Jam, Mario Tory from Comedy Central and Shaun Jones from BET’s ComicView.

The club plans to organize at least

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two comedy shows a month and weekly open mic events.

The space can also be rented for private parties.

Marshall sees the club as the up-and-coming go-to entertainment venue for fledgling performers and nationally recognized comedians alike.

It’s the type of space he wanted to perform in during his own stand-up career.

Marshall has worked in comedy for more than two decades. He started his journey as a stand-up comic, performing at shows all over Louisiana and out-of-state. He’s performed locally everywhere from Club Raggs to Belle of Baton Rouge and alongside notable comedians like Katt Williams and Mike Epps.

But the Baton Rouge native knew early on that he really wanted to work behind-the-scenes of comedy shows.

His business, Silly Rabbit Productions, started hosting comedy shows at the Belle of Baton Rouge in 2015. He brought the laughs with shows like Was it Something I Sed, featuring local comedians Howard Hall, Spencer Neal and MB. He also

SEE A SHOW Silly Rabbit Comedy Club is at 9945 Airline Highway, Suite C. It regularly hosts comedy shows, poetry readings, open mic nights and entertainment. Find the latest lineup at sillyrabbitcomedyclub.com.

hosted the comedy series We Acting Funny, starring comedian and actor Jerimiah ‘JJ’ Williamson, Mario Tory and comedian and actor K-Dubb at Allure Night Club.

After years of headlining and hosting sold-out shows, he was ready to retire his microphone. But he wanted to stay connected to the comedy scene through his own comedy club.

“I bleed and dream comedy,” Marshall says.

Now that Silly Rabbit Comedy Club

is up and running, Marshall has been able to devote his time to off-stage duties, like filling the calendar with top-notch comedy lineups, renting the space for special events and giving local talent a stage to share their gifts.

Most importantly, he wants to leave the audience happier than they were when they entered the building.

“I consider myself to be a doctor of comedy,” Marshall says. “You’d be surprised at how many people’s lives you save by making them laugh.

Laughter is the best medicine.”

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ARTS BEST BETS

MAY 5-7 Broadmoor Senior High photography students present “No Body Wants to Be Here” at Yes We Cannibal. A collection of black-and-white film photos is a commentary on the students’ experience at their school. yeswecannibal.org

A RT S

Overjoyed FILE P HOTO BY COLLIN RICHIE

MAY 1 Join the LSU Museum of Art as it joins forces with East Baton Rouge Parish Schools for the Art, Jazz and Pizazz! Art Walk featuring artwork created by local students. Since it’s the first Sunday of May, you’ll receive free admission. lsumoa.org

MAY 6-15 Join Theatre Baton Rouge as it performs Crumbs from the Table of Joy. This play follows a recently widowed father and his daughters as they move from Florida to Brooklyn for a new life. theatrebr.org MAY 20 Conductor Timothy Muffitt leads the Baton Rouge Symphony Chorus in Beethoven’s Ninth at the River Center Performing Arts Theatre. Note: The theater is a clear-bag facility. brso.org

Don't wait,

Maestro Timothy Muffitt returns to play Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in renovated River Center Theatre

By Maggie Heyn Richardson

THINK OF IT: Beethoven’s big, booming, uplifting “Ode to Joy” sung by a chorus of 120, flanked by 80 hard-working musicians led one last time by Baton Rouge’s poster boy of classical music. And it’s taking place— finally—in the newly spruced concert hall that went dark for renovations way back in 2018.

An ode to joy, indeed.

“It’s a big night for us,” says Eric Marshall, executive director of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.

“It’s going to be amazing to return to the Raising Cane’s River Center Theatre and for Timothy Muffitt to be back.”

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Give us a follow

Held on May 20, the final concert of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra’s 75th season features Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 conducted by maestro Timothy Muffitt, the orchestra’s longtime music director. Muffitt stepped down as conductor in 2019 and has served as the symphony’s music director laureate since then. He will return to lead one last concert as the symphony closes out its season. Two previously planned farewell concerts for Muffitt were interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.

Musicians are looking forward to a last chance to play with Muffitt,

who became BRSO’s music director in 1999.

“The mark that Tim has left on our organization is incredible,” Marshall says.

“He’s a complete pro. He’s known for being easy to work with, and musicians love his collaborative style.

I’ve never met anybody who doesn’t adore him.”

A series of guest conductors have led the symphony orchestra since Muffitt’s departure. Marshall anticipates a new conductor will be named sometime this summer.

While it’s Muffitt’s last concert in Baton Rouge, the silver lining is that it’s also his first chance to play in the freshly renovated theater, the symphony’s home stage. The concert hall underwent an $18 million, threeyear glow-up, finally reopening in March after multiple delays. After performing there this spring, the symphony has been able to revel in the new amenities.

“The visitor experience is really incredible,” Marshall says. “All the things that make your evening enjoyable are there.”

The biggest changes to the space,

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MUSIC BEST BETS MAY 6 Treat yourself to a country concert this month when Jimmie Allen takes the stage at the Raising Cane’s River Center. Allen will play all the hits from his discography, like “Best Shot” and “Freedom Was A Highway.” raisingcanesrivercenter.com MAY 13 You may not be able to see The Beatles perform, but you can catch the tribute band The Fab Four as they play all the classics at L’Auberge Casino & Hotel. These four look-a-likes will have you fooled as they take you back to the days of Beatlemania. lbatonrouge.com

MAY 14-15 The 2022 BRtistic Festival will rock Beauvoir Park with two days of music, live art and food. Just like the bands on stage, artists will also be performing and making art in real time. Find it on Facebook

PHOTOS BY ARIANA

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COURTESY L’AUBERGE CASINO & HOTEL

MAY 13 The Iceman Special is returning to Chelsea’s Live for the 2022 Fest Tour. This funky New Orleans quartet brings the whimsical and the weird for an unforgettable psychedelic show. chelseaslive.com

ALLISON

familiar pieces of classical music around (cue the built in the ’70s, include new seating and major 1988 movie Die Hard). Beethoven wrote the final improvements to both restrooms and concessions. movement to German playwright Friedrich Schiller’s Gone are long rows of continuous continental seating poem, “Ode to Joy,” whose themes include the unity that have made getting up an inconvenience. In its of mankind. The movement was named the national place is American-style seating, which features seats anthem of the European Union in 1985. divided by two long side aisles.

“It’s one of the greatest works out there,” Marshall In some areas of the theater, like the front row of says. “It’s a fitting way to end the season.” the balcony, premium seats with cup holders have The last of the theater project’s milestones, a been added. The total number of seats is about 1,800, renovated front plaza, is underway now, but Marshall slightly less than the previous number, but they’re all anticipates it will be finished in time for the final designed to be much more comfortable and conveconcert. A party for Muffitt nient, Marshall says. will be held there after the “And there’s a great show. brso.org view no matter where you are,” he adds.

The Raising Cane’s River Concessions have Center Theatre underwent been expanded to a three-year, $18 million include 12 different renovation, finally reopening in March. stations serving alcoholic beverages, sodas and food. All transactions are cashless. Additional new restrooms make it easier for patrons to return to their seats without delays caused by long lines.

And who would want to be late for Beethoven’s rousing ninth, the famed conductor’s last symphony?

Issue Date: May Adbe proof #2 Lasting just over an 2022 hour, it will the only • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. work played that night, Marshall says.

Its final • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless approval or final revisions are received within 24 hours movement, “OdeA shorter to Joy,” is onewill ofapply the for most from receipt ofthe this proof. timeframe tight deadlines.

MAY 20 Come see Ace Frehley as he rocks out the Manship Theatre. This Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and KISS co-founder will play the classics along with some new tracks from the album Origins, Vol. 2. manshiptheatre.org

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Issue Date: Feb 2021 Ad proof #1

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ONE MUSICAL, PLEASE! Follow pie baker Jenna as she tries to break free from the mundane routine of working in a small-town diner in the musical Waitress. With an original score from Grammy-nominated singer Sara Bareilles, you’ll be singing along with Jenna as she finds her way. Don’t miss out on this sweet musical at the Raising Cane’s River Center. raisingcanesrivercenter.com

COURTESY RAISING CANE’S RIVER CENTER

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5-8

ONE COOL SHOW Bring the whole family to see iconic Disney princesses, princes and other characters sing and dance during Disney On Ice at the Raising Cane’s River Center.

Watch all your old and new Disney friends skate their way through classic songs. Sing along with them and watch as they perform dazzling tricks on the glossy ice. disneyonice.com

ON THE ROAD NEW ORLEANS

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NOW TO MAY 3: New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, nojazzfest.com MAY 1: Gavin DeGraw at the House of Blues, houseofblues.com/neworleans MAY 20-22: Bayou Boogaloo, thebayouboogaloo.com MAY 27-29: Greek Festival, gfno.com

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CALENDAR //

ALSO THIS MONTH

CK

STO

O

OT

PH

ALL MONTH Join the West Baton Rouge Library for Spring Storytimes every Tuesday. All ages are welcome at these events. Listen along to books about the springtime while meeting new friends and checking out the library. wbrpl.com

6

COOKOFF FOR A CAUSE The Crawfish King Cookoff is returning to downtown Baton Rouge. Eat delicious crawfish or sign up to boil in the eighth annual competition. This cookoff raises money to increase youth mentoring activities in local school and after-school programs. crawfishkingcookoff.com

LILY LAGRANGE

MAY 1 Join the Baton Rouge Garden Club for a Spring Tea at the Baton Rouge Garden Center.

Sip tea and snack on light bites as you enjoy the scenes that come with the season. Take in all the beautiful sights and flowers as you chat with friends over a freshly steeped cup. facebook. com/batonrougegardenclub/

14 + 15

A SOUL FOOD SHOWDOWN Don’t miss out on the fifth annual Baton Rouge Soul Food Festival with live music, a cooking competition and local vendors. Feast on the finest soul food as you dance and sing to soul, gospel and R&B music. hitcitydigital.wixsite.com/ brsoulfoodfest

MAY 21 Did you know there were over 300 species of birds spotted at Burden? Grab your binoculars and bird books, and get ready to go Birding at Burden. Spot local bird species and search for rare migrating ones while learning all about our winged friends. lsu.edu/botanic-gardens

RAEGAN LABAT

6

MUSIC AND ART COMBO Enjoy local art, music and food at the annual Hot Art, Cool Nights Art Hop. This special festival is hosted by Mid City Artisans and Mid City Merchants. Eat at some of the best restaurants in town and browse the work of local artists as you listen to live music at the indoor-outdoor event along Government Street. mid-cityartisans.com

MAY 13 Laugh out loud when comedian Heather McMahan comes to the Raising Cane’s River Center. A self-described “highfunctioning hot mess,” McMahan shares jokes and stories that will make you smile. Although this is her first tour, McMahan jokes it could be her last, so come see her while you can. raisingcanesrivercenter.com

MAY 29 Head out to Red Stick Social this Memorial Day weekend for a festival full of local bands during Groovin’ on the Grass Fest.

Jam out with Bag of Donuts, Peyton Falgoust Band and The Michael Foster Project. While the live music plays, enjoy a buffet and unlimited beverages as you celebrate the holiday. redsticksocial.com MORE EVENTS Subscribe to our newsletter 225 Daily for our twiceweekly roundups of events.

225batonrouge.com/225daily

LAFAYETTE

MAY 11-15: Frog Festival in Rayne, raynefrogfestival.com MAY 14: Wing Wars of Acadiana, wingwarsofacadiana.com MAY 14: LVVRS at the Grouse Room, thegrouseroom.com

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THE EXPERT Q. HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE HYPERTENSION? A. Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, can be defined as consistently elevated blood flow through your blood vessels.

Hypertension is often called the “silent killer” due to the lack of visible symptoms in most people. Some people may develop symptoms if their blood pressure is dangerously high, such as headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, chest pain, or shortness of breath. If left untreated, it could lead to the development of strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure, blindness or heart failure.

IF YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS...

BLOOD < 120 NORMAL 130-139 ELEVATED > 140 HIGH PRESSURE < 80 80 > 90 Follow up with your physician annually.

Follow up with your physician every 6 months.

Follow up with your physician.

It is recommended that you have your blood pressure checked at least once a year.

Q. HOW CAN I PREVENT OR REDUCE MY RISK OF HYPERTENSION? A. The first step of any treatment program should be a lifestyle modification. This includes dietary changes such as, reducing salt intake and/or the introduction of the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), limiting alcohol use, eliminating tobacco use, weight loss, and regular exercise, if approved by your physician. If your blood pressure remains uncontrolled, despite taking the appropriate measures, your physician may prescribe blood pressure lowering medication.

For more information on Hypertension, please go to: www.batonrougeclinic.com/hypertension To schedule an appointment with one of our internist please call (225) 246-9240

MAIN CLINIC: 7373 PERKINS ROAD BATON ROUGE, LA 70808 l (225) 769-4044 BATONROUGECLINIC.COM 225batonrouge.com | [225] May 2022

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FRAMED //

In every issue of 225, you’ll find a free print on this page. FRAMED celebrates life and art in Baton Rouge, each one featuring a local photographer, place or graphic designer. Cut it out to hang in your cubicle, or frame it for your home gallery wall. Show us where you hang them by tagging them on social media with #225prints.

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[225] May 2022 | 225batonrouge.com

PHOTO BY COLLIN RICHIE / collinrichiephoto.com/ GET FEATURED We love collaborating with local photographers, artists and designers for this page! Shoot us an email at editor@225batonrouge.com to chat about being featured.